Disability inclusion
Topic guide
November 2015
About this Topic Guide
This guide summarises some of the most rigorous available
evidence on the key debates and challenges of disability
inclusion in development and humanitarian response.
GSDRC Topic Guides aim to provide a clear, concise and
objective report on findings from rigorous research on
critical areas of development policy. Their purpose is to
inform policymakers and practitioners of the key debates
and evidence on the topic of focus, to support informed
decision-making.
Related GSDRC Topic Guides




Human rights
Inclusive institutions
Social exclusion
Social development and human
development
See: www.gsdrc.org/go/topic-guides
Author and contributors
This guide was written by Brigitte Rohwerder (GSDRC, Institute of Development Studies). Its production
was supported by the UK Government.
GSDRC appreciates the contributions of Sophie Mitra (Fordham University); Maria Kett, (Leonard
Cheshire Disability and Inclusive Development Centre, UCL); Karen Andrae (International Development
and Disability Consultant); Fiach O’Broin-Molloy and Carrie Netting (DFID); and Evie Browne (University of
Birmingham).
About GSDRC
GSDRC is a partnership of research institutes, think-tanks and consultancy organisations with expertise in
governance, social development, humanitarian and conflict issues. We provide applied knowledge
services on demand and online. Our specialist research team supports a range of international
development agencies, synthesising the latest evidence and expert thinking to inform policy and practice.
International Development Department, College of Social Sciences
University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
www.gsdrc.org
Suggested citation:
Rohwerder, B. (2015). Disability inclusion: Topic guide. Birmingham, UK: GSDRC, University of
Birmingham.
Cover image: Street vendors in Dhaka, supported by a Disabled Persons Organistion (Andy Isaacson / DFAT)
© DFID Crown Copyright 2015
Licensed under the Open Government Licence: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence
The views expressed in this report are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of GSDRC, its partner
agencies or DFID.
Supported by:
Contents
Executive summary
1
1 Background: definitions, concepts and history
4
Definition of disability
4
Charity model
4
Medical model
5
Social model
5
Human rights model
5
Interactional models
5
Disability inclusion
6
Note on the use of language
6
Disability prevalence
7
The evolving disability rights movement
9
United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
9
Putting disability on the international development agenda
10
2 The situation of people with disabilities: the current state of affairs
12
The association between poverty and disability
12
Access to jobs, livelihoods and social protection programmes
15
Support and participation in society
17
Political participation
19
Education
19
Health
21
Water and sanitation
23
Accessibility: transport, infrastructure and digital technology
24
Rates of violence
26
Access to justice
27
Disaster risk reduction
27
Conflict and emergencies
28
Post-conflict reconstruction
29
Macro-economic costs of disability exclusion
30
Lack of data and the invisibility of people with disabilities
31
3 Barriers to disability inclusion
33
Attitudinal barriers
33
Environmental barriers
33
Institutional barriers
33
‘Internalised’ barriers
34
Lack of participation
34
Inadequate data and statistics
34
Inaccurate concerns over cost/difficulty of disability inclusion
34
4 Impact of disability inclusion
36
Increased earnings and labour productivity
36
Increased tax revenue
36
Improved individual and family well-being
36
More inclusive and accessible societies for all
37
5 Disability inclusive development / humanitarian response approaches
38
Mainstreaming
38
‘Twin-track’ approach
38
Raising awareness and changing attitudes/behaviours
39
Comprehensive accessibility
39
Reasonable accommodation
39
Participation
40
Rights-based approach
40
Community-based rehabilitation
41
Organisational change
41
Resources: case studies of successful disability inclusion
42
6 Policies, frameworks and tools
43
Overarching frameworks
43
Approaches of UN agencies and other multilateral organisations
43
Approaches of bilateral development agencies
43
Toolkits for disability inclusion
44
References
46
Executive summary
Disability prevalence
Disability is not rare. An estimated one billion people or around 15 per cent of the world’s population
have some form of disability (WHO & World Bank, 2011). Disability is more common in low- and middleincome countries than in high-income countries, and among older age groups (WHO & World Bank, 2011;
Mitra & Sambamoorthi, 2014). Disability is something everyone is likely to experience, either
permanently or temporarily, at some point in their life (WHO & World Bank, 2011). People with
disabilities are diverse and not defined by their disability.
The current situation of people with disabilities
Disability does not necessary imply limited well-being and poverty. Yet, there is growing evidence that
disability and poverty are highly correlated, especially multi-dimensional poverty (Groce et al., 2011;
Mitra et al., 2013). Disability is both a cause and consequence of poverty, and poverty and disability
reinforce each other, contributing to increased vulnerability and exclusion (DFID, 2000; Trani & Loeb,
2012).
Data show that people with disabilities in low- and middle-income countries are poorer than their
nondisabled peers in terms of access to education, healthcare, employment, income, justice, social
support and civic involvement (Groce et al., 2011; WHO & World Bank, 2011; Heymann et al., 2014;
Mitra, 2014; Morgon Banks & Polack, 2014; Brooks et al., 2013), and are more likely to experience
multiple deprivations (Mitra et al., 2013).They encounter inaccessible transport, infrastructure and
digital technology (WHO & World Bank, 2011; DESA, 2013). Children and adults with disabilities are at
higher risk of physical, sexual and other forms of violence (Hughes et al., 2012; UNICEF, 2013; Ortoleva
& Lewis, 2012). People with disabilities are often excluded from disaster management and risk reduction
processes (UNISDR, 2014; Smith et al., 2012), and are disproportionately affected by conflicts and
disasters (Mitchell & Karr, 2014; Smith et al., 2012; WRC, 2015). Humanitarian response is often
inaccessible (UNISDR, 2014, p. 4; Kett & Twigg, 2007; WRC, 2008; Mitchell & Karr, 2014).
The exclusion of people with disabilities has significant economic as well as social costs, caused by losses
in productivity and human potential (DFID, 2000; Morgon Banks & Polack, 2014).
Diverse experiences of disability
Intersecting inequalities and personal factors may influence the experience of disability, and not all
people with disabilities are equally disadvantaged (WHO & World Bank, 2011):

Women with disabilities often experience double discrimination that can extend to all areas of
life (DESA, 2011; DFID, 2000; Morgon Banks & Polack, 2014; Ortoleva & Lewis, 2012; WHO &
World Bank, 2011; HRW, 2012).

Children with disabilities are amongst the most marginalised and discriminated against children
in the world (HI & STC, 2011; Trani et al., 2013; Trani & Cannings, 2013).

Older people with disabilities are disproportionately poor (Masset & White, 2004).

People who experience mental health conditions or intellectual impairments appear to be more
disadvantaged in many settings than those who experience physical or sensory impairments
(WHO & World Bank, 2011; Inclusion Intl., 2006).

People with invisible disabilities often face significant discrimination (Yeo & Moore, 2003).
Disability inclusion: Topic guide, 2015
1
Barriers to disability inclusion
The evidence makes it clear that these inequalities are a result of barriers, rather than any inherent
limitations of people with disabilities (Heymann et al., 2014; Groce et al., 2011; Morgon Banks & Polack,
2014; Groce & Kett, 2014; Groce & Bakhshi, 2011; Bruijn et al., 2012; WHO & World Bank, 2011). Barriers
to disability inclusion include: attitudinal barriers; environmental barriers; institutional barriers;
‘internalised’ barriers; lack of participation; inadequate data, statistics and evidence on what works, and
inaccurate concerns over cost/difficulty of disability inclusion. Attitudinal barriers are one of the greatest
obstacles to achieving equality of opportunity and social integration (Wapling & Downie, 2012; UNICEF,
2013; Heymann et al., 2014; Bruijn et al., 2012). The lack of rigorous and comparable data, combined
with lack of evidence on programmes that work, often impedes understanding and action on disability
inclusion (WHO & World Bank, 2011).
The impact of disability inclusion
Some evidence and estimates indicate that disability inclusion could lead to increased earnings and
labour productivity; increased tax revenues; improved individual and family well-being; and wider
societal benefits through a more inclusive and accessible society for all (Lamicchane, 2015; Morgon
Banks & Polack, 2014; Heyman et al., 2014; Grider & Wydick, 2015; WRC, 2015; WHO & World Bank,
2011).
Disability inclusive development / humanitarian response approaches
Disability inclusive development/humanitarian response approaches need not be costly or complicated.
They include:

mainstreaming (DESA, 2011; Coe & Wapling, 2010; Bruijn et al., 2012);

the ‘twin track approach’ (DFID, 2000; Al Ju’beh, 2015);

raising awareness and changing attitudes/behaviours (Coe & Wapling, 2010; Coe, 2012;
UNICEF, 2013; Bruijn et al., 2012);

comprehensive accessibility and Universal Design (DESA, 2013; WHO & World Bank, 2011);

reasonable accommodation (UNCRPD, 2006);

participation (DESA, 2011; Al Ju’beh, 2015; Coe & Wapling, 2010; Bruijn et al., 2012; CBM, 2012;
Smith et al., 2012; NCD, 2012; DSEA, 2011);

rights-based initiatives (DESA, 2011; Wapling & Downie, 2012; Al Ju’beh, 2015; NCD, 2012);

community-based rehabilitation (CBR) (Mauro et al., 2014; Biggeri et al., 2014);

inclusive education (Bakhshi et al., 2013; WHO & World Bank, 2011);

inclusive livelihood approaches (Mont, 2014; Mitra, 2014); and

‘Building back better’ after emergencies (Mitchell & Karr, 2014).
Organisational change is needed for the successful inclusion of people with disabilities in
development/humanitarian projects (Bruijn et al., 2012; Wapling & Downie, 2011; Coe & Wapling, 2010).
Inclusive approaches are more cost-effective than piecemeal disability interventions (Walton, 2012;
Bruijn et al., 2012). The costs associated with including people with disabilities are far outweighed by the
long-term financial benefits to individuals, families and society (CBM, 2012).
2
Tools to monitor and evaluate the impact of disability inclusion include the UN-endorsed Washington
Group Short Set of Questions. People with disabilities can participate in the collection and analysis of
data.
Most work on disability inclusion is framed around the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities. Looking towards the future, the new Sustainable Development Goals pledge to leave no one
behind and directly mention people with disabilities under five of the 17 goals.
However, it is still rare for international development initiatives to systematically include disability in all
aspects of all programmes (Groce et al., 2011).
State of the evidence
Lack of definitional clarity and robust statistics and little attention to, or funding for, disability research in
international development has resulted in a limited evidence base and evidence gaps in all sectors (Groce
et al., 2011, p. 1495). There is growing evidence on the association between disability and
multidimensional poverty and inequalities. However, more research is needed, especially into the exact
nature of this relationship, its dynamics and causalities, and the impact of intersectionality. The evidence
is often nuanced and context dependent. There is often strong anecdotal evidence available, but few
randomised control trials, or rigorous quantitative or qualitative evidence-based studies. There is more
evidence on the impact of exclusion than inclusion, as exclusion is often still the default position. While
there are many examples of best practice, there are very few rigorous or external evaluations of what
works (and what does not) in disability inclusive development/humanitarian response approaches. More
practical tools are needed, and appropriate and effective benchmarks and indicators for evaluating
disability inclusion.
Disability inclusion: Topic guide, 2015
3
1 Background: definitions,
concepts and history
Disability is part of the human condition. Everyone is likely to experience it, either permanently or
temporarily, at some point in their life (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 3). People with disabilities are
diverse and not defined by their disability (Al Ju’beh, 2015, p. 14; WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 7).
Disabilities may be visible or invisible, and onset can be at birth, or during childhood, working age years
or old age.
This guide is designed to bring development and humanitarian professionals up to date on disability
inclusion. It highlights key concepts and debates and covers: the current situation of people with
disabilities in various sectors development and humanitarian professionals may be interested in; barriers
to disability inclusion that have contributed to the current situation and need to be overcome; the impact
of disability inclusion; best practice disability inclusive development/humanitarian response approaches
that can be applied across the board; and disability inclusion policies, frameworks and tools, including for
specific sectors.
Definition of disability
There is no single definition of disability (Mitra, 2006, p. 236). Defining disability is complicated as it is
‘complex, dynamic, multidimensional and contested’ (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 3).
The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) recognises that ‘disability is an
evolving concept’ (UNCRPD, 2006, p. 1):
‘Persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory
impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation
in society on an equal basis with others’ (UNCRPD, 2006, p. 4).
This fluid definition accommodates different understandings of disability or impairment (Schulze, 2010, p.
27, pp. 35-36), but by defining disability as an interaction, makes clear that disability is not an attribute of
the person (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 5). As Al Ju’beh notes (2015, p. 13), ‘An impairment on its own
would not lead to disability should there be a completely inclusive and comprehensively accessible
environment’, which includes addressing attitudinal barriers such as stereotypes, prejudices and other
forms of paternalistic and patronising treatment (Schulze, 2010, p. 27). UNCRPD’s definition enshrines
the social model of disability (Schulze, 2010, p. 27).
Different models of disability inform how disability is understood and acted upon, and can be
categorised as follows.
Charity model
The charity model of disability focuses on the individual, and tends to view people with disabilities as
passive victims ‒ objects of pity who need care, and whose impairment is their main identifier (Al Ju’beh,
2015, p. 20).
4
Medical model
The medical (or biomedical) model of disability considers ‘disability a problem of the individual that is
directly caused by a disease, an injury, or some other health condition and requires medical care in the
form of treatment and rehabilitation’ (Mitra, 2006, p. 237). It assumes that addressing the medical
ailment will solve the ‘problem’ ‒ that disability needs to be fixed or cured (Al Ju’beh, 2015, p. 20). This
model is widely criticised on different grounds, including for not considering the important roles of
environmental and social barriers (Mitra, 2006, p. 237; 82; Rimmerman, 2013, p. 27).
Medical and charity models of disability have led to ‘development interventions based largely on
impairment needs assessed by “expert” personnel, involving specialist services that are often severely
limited in geographical, age, and impairment reach, as well as generally being expensive to run’ (Coe,
2012, p. 402).
Social model
The social model of disability developed as a reaction to the individualistic approaches of the charitable
and medical models (Al Ju’beh, 2015, p. 20; Rimmerman, 2013, p. 28). It is human rights driven and
socially constructed (Woodburn, 2013, p. 85). It sees disability as created by the social environment,
which excludes people with impairments from full participation in society as a result of attitudinal,
environmental and institutional barriers (Mitra, 2006, p. 237). It places emphasis on society adapting to
include people with disabilities by changing attitudes, practice and policies to remove barriers to
participation, but also acknowledges the role of medical professionals (DFID, 2000, p. 8; Al Ju’beh, 2015,
pp. 20-21, 83).
The social model has been criticised for ignoring the personal impact of disability and for its emphasis on
individual empowerment, which may be contrary to more collective social customs and practices in many
developing countries (Al Ju’beh, 2015, p. 83-86; Rimmerman, 2013, p. 30).
Human rights model
This model of disability is based on the social model and also seeks to transform unjust systems and
practices. It takes the UNCRPD as its main reference point and sees people with disabilities as the ‘central
actors in their own lives as decision makers, citizens and rights holders’ (Al Ju’beh, 2015, pp. 20-21, 87).
The social and human rights models form the basis of many disability policies and practices (Kett & Twigg,
2007, p. 88). As development professionals may identify with the individual models of disability, it is
important not to alienate them when introducing them to disability as a human rights issue, but to ‘help
[them] to see that barriers are a more helpful and respectful lens with which to view disability’ (Al Ju’beh,
2015, p. 23).
Interactional models
Interactional models recognise that disability should be seen as neither purely medical nor purely social,
as people with disabilities can experience problems arising from the interaction of their health condition
with the environment (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 4).
The most commonly used interactional model is the model underlying the International Classification of
Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 5). This views disability as arising
from the negative interaction between health conditions and the context – including environmental
Disability inclusion: Topic guide, 2015
5
factors (products and technology; the natural and built environment; support and relationships;
attitudes; services, systems, and policies) and personal factors (e.g. age, sex, motivation and self-esteem)
(WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 5).
The ICF is presented as representing a workable compromise between medical and social models as a
result of its greater recognition of the impact of environmental and structural factors on disability (WHO
& World Bank, 2011, p. 4; Groce et al., 2011, p. 1500; Al Ju’beh, 2015, p. 84; Woodburn, 2013, p. 86).
However, it has been ‘severely criticised by prominent members of the disability movement, in the belief
that it does not really analyse exclusion and discrimination of people with disabilities’ (Groce et al., 2011,
p. 1500; see also Al Ju’beh, 2015, p. 84).
The capability approach to disability is another interactional model. It has been adapted from Sen’s
capability approach in economics (Mitra, 2006, p. 236, 238; WHO & World Bank, 2011, pp. 10-11). The
capability approach allows researchers to analyse disability at the capability level (disability occurs when
an individual is deprived of practical opportunities as a result of an impairment); and, disability at the
functioning level (an individual is disabled if they cannot do or be the things they value doing or being)
(Mitra, 2006, p. 236, pp. 241-242). In this framework disability can be understood as a deprivation in
terms of capabilities or functionings that results from the interaction of an individual’s personal
characteristics (e.g., impairment, age, race, gender); the individual’s resources (assets, income); and the
individual’s environment (physical, social, economic, political) (Mitra, 2006, pp. 236-237, 239, 241; Trani
& Loeb, 2012, p. S20). This model has often been compared to the ICF model (Mitra, 2014, p. 268). It
stresses the individual’s freedoms, as well as the possibility that economic resources, or the lack thereof,
can be disabling (Mitra, 2006).
Disability inclusion
A meta-analysis of the use of social inclusion in disability studies found it to mean: i) being accepted and
recognised as an individual beyond the disability; ii) having personal relationships with family, friends and
acquaintances; iii) being involved in recreation and social activities; iv) having appropriate living
accommodation; v) having employment; and vi) having appropriate formal and informal support
(Rimmerman, 2013, p. 1).
Disability inclusive development ‘seeks to ensure the full participation of people with disabilities as
empowered self-advocates in development processes and emergency responses and works to address
the barriers which hinder their access and participation’ (Al Ju’beh, 2015, p. 49).
Note on the use of language
The language used to describe people with disabilities is important as it is about fundamental respect for
the integrity and dignity of people with disabilities (Al Ju’beh, 2015, p. 24).
The use of ‘people/persons with disabilities’ is known as ‘people first’ language. It is based on the need
‘to affirm and define the person first, before the impairment or disability’ (Al Ju’beh, 2015, p. 25). It is the
preference in many developing countries and the language used by the UNCRPD (Al Ju’beh, 2015, p. 25).
In the UK, however, the preferred term is ‘disabled people’, as ‘people do not have disabilities, but rather
impairments which become disabling, due to society not being comprehensively accessible and inclusive’
(Al Ju’beh, 2015, p. 25). This guide uses the term people with disabilities and disabled people
interchangeably.
6
Table 1: Appropriate use of language (for English speakers)
Do Use
Don’t Use
Person with an impairment; person with
disability, people with disabilities
The disabled, handicapped, PWD
Person without a disability, non-disabled
person, sighted person
Normal person
Person with a psychosocial disability, or
psychiatric impairment or person with
mental illness
‘Mental’ or ‘mad’
Person with intellectual disabilities or
persons with learning disabilities
Mental handicap or retarded
Person who is blind, person who has low
vision; partially sighted person
The blind; the visually impaired
Person who is deaf, person who is hard of
hearing; a deaf person
Suffers from hearing loss, the deaf, deaf
and dumb, deaf-mute
Person who uses a wheelchair, wheelchairuser
Confined or restricted to a wheelchair,
wheelchair bound
Person with a physical disability
Invalid; handicapped person; cripple,
crippled, lame
Unable to speak, uses synthetic speech
Dumb, mute
Lives with / has / experiences a disability /
impairment
Suffers from
Accessible toilet / parking for persons with
disabilities
Disabled toilet/handicapped parking
Source: adapted from Al Ju’beh, 2015, pp. 28-29.
Disability prevalence
Disability is not rare, however it is hard to obtain an estimate of the number of people with disabilities.
There are big differences in the ways countries define and measure disability; the quality and methods of
data collection; the reliability of sources; and disclosure rates as families may fear stigma and isolation (Al
Ju’beh, 2015, p. 12; WHO & World Bank, 2011, pp. 21-24). In low-income countries prevalence is often
recorded as very low as a result of the use of weak methodologies. The Washington Group Short Set of
Questions has been designed to measure disability consistently worldwide and is beginning to be used
more widely.
The World Report on Disability, 2011, is seen as the most reliable source to date on disability data and
statistics (Al Ju’beh, 2015, p. 12). It finds that there are over a billion people, about 15 per cent of the
world’s population, who have some form of disability (WHO & World Bank, 2011; p. 44). A similar global
figure of 14 per cent is found by Mitra & Sambamoorthi (2014, p. 940) using a different methodology but
the same data. They also find that disability prevalence is higher: in low- and middle-income countries
than in high-income countries; among people aged 65 and above (39 per cent) than among working age
adults (12 per cent); and among women (18.5 per cent) than men (12.1 per cent) (Mitra &
Sambamoorthi, 2014, p. 940, 944).
Disability inclusion: Topic guide, 2015
7
Disability prevalence is likely to rise as a result of ‘ageing populations and the higher risk of disability in
older people as well as the global increase in chronic health conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular
disease, cancer and mental health disorders’ (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. xi).
Table 2: Age-sex standardised disability prevalence (per cent) among adults for all countries and by
country income group
All 54 countries
High income
countries
Upper middle
income
countries
Lower middle
income
countries
Low income
countries
At least two
severe or
extreme
limitations
(a)
One severe
or extreme
limitation
(b)
At least two
moderate
limitations
(c)
One
moderate
limitation
(d)
No
limitation
(e)
Disability
(a)+(b)
4.9
9.1
5.1
11.5
69.4
14.0
1.7
4.8
3.0
10.1
80.3
6.5
4.2
9.2
4.2
13.0
69.4
13.4
7.8
12.1
6.8
10.9
62.3
19.9
4.8
7.8
5.0
10.8
71.6
12.6
Source: Mitra & Sambamoorthi, 2014, p. 944
Table 3: Prevalence of limitations and disability (per cent) for all countries by demographic
characteristic
At least two
severe or
extreme
limitations
(a)
One severe
or extreme
limitation
(b)
At least two
moderate
limitations
(c)
One
moderate
limitation
(d)
No
limitation
(e)
Disability
(a)+(b)
Women
7.0
11.5
6.3
13.5
61.8
18.5
Men
4.0
8.1
4.7
10.5
72.7
12.1
Adults aged 18+
Working age adults (18-64)
All
3.6
8.4
4.7
11.6
71.6
12.0
Women
4.8
9.9
5.4
13.3
66.6
14.7
Men
2.4
6.7
3.9
9.8
77.1
9.1
All
19.1
20.3
11.0
15.1
34.5
39.4
Women
22.2
22.0
11.9
14.7
29.3
44.2
Men
15.6
18.3
9.8
15.6
40.7
33.9
Older adults (65+)
Source: Mitra & Sambamoorthi, 2014, p. 944
8
The evolving disability rights movement
Historically, people with disabilities have largely been provided for through solutions that segregate
them, such as residential institutions and special schools (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 3; Schulze, 2010,
16; Rimmerman, 2013, p. 22). However, responses to disability began to change in the 1970s, driven by
the self-organisation of people with disabilities across the world and by the growing tendency to see
disability as a human rights issue (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 3; Rimmerman, 2013, pp. 20-22). This has
resulted in policies shifting ‘towards community and educational inclusion, and medically-focused
solutions have given way to more interactive approaches recognizing that people are disabled by
environmental factors as well as by their bodies’ (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 3).
Disabled people’s organisations (DPOs)
These were set up with a rights-based approach to empowerment: people with disabilities represented
themselves rather than being represented by others (Barron & Amerena, 2007, p. 14). Their common
slogan is ‘nothing about us, without us’.
DPOs emerged from civil rights movements, including in former colonial countries, and exist at local,
regional and national levels across the world, offering support and the opportunity to raise awareness
and advocate for rights (Barron & Amerena, 2007, pp. 14-15; Rimmerman, 2013, pp. 20-21; Irvine, 2014,
p. 162). They may require institutional strengthening and organisational capacity building to help them to
increase the visibility of disability issues, promote inclusive development, and support rights
advancement (Barron & Amerena, 2007, p. 7; Wapling & Downie, 2012, p. 39). Sometimes it is important
to keep in mind that DPOs may only represent one type of disability, or they may represent the views of
an elite: they may not speak for women, rural dwellers, or people with disabilities who are not members
of the DPO (Bruijn et al., 2012, p. 59; Trani et al., 2011, p. 1192).
Contributions of civil society actors to disability rights
DPOs and national and international NGOs helped draft the UNCRPD, and this marked a paradigm shift in
the way civil society interacts with multilateral institutions (Woodburn, 2013, pp. 75-76; Schulze, 2010, p.
19). An International Disability Caucus of DPOs and NGOs was created to present a cohesive agenda that
would be both applicable and beneficial to all with disabilities (Woodburn, 2013, p. 82). The involvement
of DPOs and NGOs led to the human-rights based focus of the UNCRPD, a definition of disability, and the
inclusion of women’s rights ‒ an article on disabled women and gendered language (Woodburn, 2013,
pp. 85-89; Schulze, 2010). Through its adoption of a social model of disability, the UNCRPD is viewed as a
landmark in the history of the disability rights movement (Meekosha & Soldatic, 2011, p. 1384). There are
some concerns however that marginalised groups were not adequately represented in the discussions;
for instance, fewer southern NGOs were involved (Woodburn, 2013, p. 90; Meekosha & Soldatic, 2011, p.
1383).
United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) affirms the dignity
and human rights of all people with disabilities and rejects the link between ability and impairment
(Wapling & Downie, 2012, p. 12). It does not create any new rights but clearly states that ‘persons with
disabilities have equal access and a right to full and effective enjoyment of all human rights’ (Schulze,
2010, p. 7, 13; WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 9). The principles of the UNCRPD are: inherent dignity, nondiscrimination, effective inclusion, respect for differences, equal opportunity, accessibility, gender
Disability inclusion: Topic guide, 2015
9
equality and respect for the evolving capacities of children with disabilities (Wapling & Downie, 2012, pp.
18-19; Schulze, 2010, pp. 44-49).
Article 32 on international cooperation and Article 11 on humanitarian emergencies are unique, and
require state parties and other actors in international cooperation to respect, promote and fulfil the
rights and dignity of people with disabilities (Wapling & Downie, 2012, p. 22).
The Optional Protocol is a side-agreement to the UNCRPD. It establishes an individual complaints
mechanism for the Convention, with a complaints body in the form of the UNCRPD Committee.
As of October 2015, there are 160 signatories and 160 ratifications to the Convention; and 92 signatories
and 88 ratifications to the Optional Protocol. State parties to the UNCRPD are required to adopt
legislation and other measures to promote and protect the human rights of people with disabilities, and
can be held accountable to the UNCRPD Committee. States that have ratified the UNCRPD have the
option of ‘progressive implementation’, whereby they are allowed to implement the Convention over a
number of years (Groce et al., 2011, p. 1495).
UNCRPD as an advocacy and accountability tool
The UNCRPD is a powerful tool with which to measure the fulfilment of rights. It acts as a rallying point
for lobbying activities, as it analyses barriers and provides a clearly defined and easily understood set of
rights that are linked to common development themes (Wapling & Downie, 2012, p. 17, 22; Groce et al.,
2011, p. 1495; Meekosha & Soldatic, 2011, p. 1386). It has helped raise the political profile of disability
issues within international development (Groce et al., 2011, p. 1495). People with disabilities and NGOs
have also used the UNCRPD to hold their national governments to account. Even in states that are not
signatories to the UNCRPD ‒ such as Somalia, South Sudan and Tajikistan ‒ disability activists encourage
their government to sign and ratify it (Aldersey, 2013).
However, despite commitments to the UNCRPD on paper, in many countries there are still problems with
its effective implementation and enforcement (Groce et al., 2011, p. 1495).
Putting disability on the international development agenda
Lack of disability in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
The MDGs did not mention people with disabilities, and this is felt to have been ‘a lost opportunity to
address the pressing social, educational, health and economic concerns of millions of the world’s most
marginalized citizens’ (Groce, 2011, p. viii). The MDGs’ focus on national averages concealed whether
processes were inclusive or equitable (Vandemoortele, 2011, p. 19). They have been criticised for
incentivising the pursuit of the ‘low hanging fruit’ (i.e. providing for the easy to reach rather than those
most in need) (Save the Children, 2012). Lack of explicit mention of people with disabilities resulted in the
lack of systematic inclusion of people with disabilities in programmes and policies, and lack of monitoring
of disability-related statistics (Groce, 2011, p. x).
Disability inclusion in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Local, regional and national DPOs and NGOs led the calls for disability to be included in the MDGs and
SDGs (Groce, 2011, p. ix; Mitra, 2013, p. e178; Al Ju’beh, 2015, p. 34). The final outcome document of the
post-2015 agenda, Transforming our world: The 2030 agenda for sustainable development, is disability
inclusive and pledges to leave no one behind, with eleven explicit references to people with disabilities. It
notes that more than 80 per cent of people with disabilities live in poverty, which puts people with
disabilities at the centre of poverty eradication throughout the agenda (Lockwood, 2015). It directly
10
references people with disabilities under five of the seventeen goals, in relation to education, growth and
employment, reducing inequality, safe and inclusive human settlements, and data collection and
monitoring of the SDGs. It commits to using data which is disaggregated by disability. People with
disabilities are also included wherever vulnerable is referenced (18 times), in line with paragraph 23.
The SDGS are described as ‘a powerful tool that people with disabilities can use nation by nation to argue
for their inclusion’ (Haslam, 2015). The strong focus on disability in ‘so many national policy areas within
this document, such as employment, education and transport, gives clear direction for development
planners and thinkers’ (Haslam, 2015). However, there are some concerns about the lack of explicit
references to people with disabilities in relation to health and gender (Lockwood, 2015). In addition, it is
considered very important that the indicators for the SDGs contain explicit references to people with
disabilities.
Disability inclusion: Topic guide, 2015
11
2 The situation of people with disabilities:
the current state of affairs
Disability does not necessarily imply limited well-being and poverty. Many people with disabilities live
fulfilling lives, have families, earn a living, and are successful. However, a growing body of evidence
indicates that they also face attitudinal, physical and institutional barriers and intersecting inequalities,
which can result in multi-dimensional poverty, exclusion, and marginalisation. Exclusion in one area of life
can have negative repercussions in other areas.
This section looks at the current situation for people with disabilities in various sectors. For general best
practice development/humanitarian response disability inclusion approaches to the challenges faced by
people with disabilities in the different sectors see Section 5; for toolkits see Section 6.
Intersecting inequalities
People with disabilities are diverse, and not all people with disabilities are equally disadvantaged (WHO &
World Bank, 2011, p. 8). Multiple and intersectional discrimination is slowly being recognised as a social
barrier for people with disabilities (Schulze, 2010, p. 30).

Gender: Women and girls with disabilities commonly experience double discrimination that can
extend to all areas of life, including legislation and policies (DESA, 2011, p. 12; DFID, 2000, p. 5;
Morgon Banks & Polack, 2014, p. 36; Ortoleva & Lewis, 2012; WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 8;
HRW, 2012, p. 3). Women with disabilities from minority groups or rural areas and other
marginalised identities face additional disadvantages (Ortoleva & Lewis, 2012, p. 28).

Age: Children with disabilities are amongst the most marginalised and discriminated against
children in the world (HI & STC, 2011, p. viii; Trani et al., 2013, p. 404; UNICEF, 2013, p. 41; Trani
& Cannings, 2013, p. 58). Very little is known about young people with disabilities, and
programmes often overlook them (Groce & Kett, 2014, p. 3; Meyers et al., 2014). Older people
with disabilities are disproportionately poor (Masset & White, 2004, p. 291).
Inequalities and the diversity of disability
People with different forms of impairment or acquirement can experience inequalities differently. The
World Report on Disability finds that ‘people who experience mental health conditions or intellectual
impairments appear to be more disadvantaged in many settings than those who experience physical or
sensory impairments’ (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 8; Inclusion Intl., 2006). People with other invisible
disabilities (such as debilitating pain or fatigue), often face significant discrimination (Yeo & Moore, 2003,
p. 579). In some countries, people who have been disabled as a result of conflict enjoy higher status than
those whose disabilities have another cause, as a result of the value placed on them as ‘war heroes’ or
‘innocent victims’ (Mitchell & Karr, 2014, p. 228; Kett & Twigg, 2007, p. 95; Meyers, 2014, p. 200).
The association between poverty and disability
While not all people with disabilities are poor, it is increasingly recognised that ‘disability is an important
issue in poverty reduction and poverty alleviation efforts’ (Groce et al., 2011, p. 1493). A small but
growing body of evidence is providing specific information about the association between disability and
poverty, especially multi-dimensional poverty (Groce et al., 2011, p. 1496, 1502; Mitra et al., 2013, p. 3).
Data are showing that people with disabilities in low- and middle-income countries are ‘poorer than their
nondisabled peers in terms of access to education, access to healthcare, employment, income, social
support and civic involvement’ (Groce et al., 2011, p. 1496). For example, a study using internationally
12
comparable data from fifteen developing countries found that in most countries, disability is ’significantly
associated with higher multidimensional poverty as well as lower educational attainment, lower
employment rates, and higher medical expenditures’1 (Mitra et al., 2013, p. 1). A recent systematic
review of the relationship between disability and poverty in low- and middle-income countries also noted
that ‘the majority of studies (78 of 97 - 80 per cent) found a positive, statistically significant association
between disability and economic poverty’ (Morgon Banks & Polack, 2014, p. ii). A study of poverty and
disability in Afghanistan and Zambia found ‘evidence of lower access to healthcare, education and labour
market for people with disabilities, whatever is the disability status, but poverty measured by an asset
index is not statistically different between people with and without disabilities’ (Trani & Loeb, 2012, p.
S19). It should be noted, however, that most families in these countries own very few assets (Trani &
Loeb, 2012, p. S31). Other studies find similarly inconclusive results on the association between disability
and household income or household consumption expenditures (Rischewski et al., 2008; WHO & World
Bank, 2011, p. 40; Mitra et al., 2013).
The links between poverty and disability
Where does the association between poverty and disability come from? It is often stated that disability is
‘both a cause and consequence of poverty’ and poverty and disability ‘reinforce each other, contributing
to increased vulnerability and exclusion’ (DFID, 2000, p. 1, 2; Trani & Loeb, 2012, p. S19). However, the
dynamics among the causal factors driving this disability–poverty nexus are under-researched (Groce et
al., 2011, p. 1493, 1495; Mitra et al., 2013, pp. 1-3; Morgon Banks & Polack, 2014, p. i; Mont, 2014, p. 24).
This is partly the result of the lack of a consistent measure of disability (Groce et al., 2011, p. 1494, 1500;
Mitra et al., 2013, p. 1).
Disability → poverty
Disability accentuates poverty because the systemic institutional, environmental and attitudinal barriers
that people with disabilities encounter in their daily lives result in their entrenched social exclusion and
lack of participation in society (Groce et al., 2011, p. 1497). This leads to:
 discrimination, social marginalisation and isolation;
 insufficient access to education, adequate housing, nutritious food, clean water, basic sanitation,
healthcare and credit;
 lack of ability to participate fully in legal and political processes; and
 lack of preparation for and meaningful inclusion in the workforce
(Woodburn, 2013, p. 80; Groce et al., 2011, p. 1497).
Additional costs of disability
Disability can reduce people’s earning potential. Yet someone with a disability ‘might need a higher
income to achieve the same level of functioning as a nondisabled person’ to pay for assistive devices or
personal support (Groce et al., 2011, p. 1502; Mitra et al., 2013, p. 2; WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 10,
43). Very few studies estimate the direct costs of disability. Direct costs may be low due to the
unavailability of services and goods (e.g. medical care, assistive devices), which may in turn limit
opportunities and well-being. Poor people with disabilities are less likely to earn their way out of poverty
as a result of the work and education related barriers they face (Heymann et al., 2014, p. 3).
1
Multidimensional poverty refers to the experience of simultaneous multiple deprivations.
Disability inclusion: Topic guide, 2015
13
Poverty → disability
Poverty increases the likelihood of disability: chronically poor people are often at risk of ill health and
injuries, which may lead to disability (Groce et al., 2011, p. 1498; Mitra et al., 2013, p. 2). Poverty is
associated with malnutrition, inadequate access to public health services (e.g. immunisation), poor living
conditions (e.g. lack of safe water), and environmental exposures (e.g. unsafe work environments), which
can lead to health conditions which result in disability (Mitra et al., 2013, p. 2). The poor who become
disabled are likely to descend further into poverty, with a significant effect on their entire household
(Groce et al., 2011, p. 1498).
Diverse economic experiences
People with disabilities live in environments and have individual compounding characteristics that
influence their economic experiences (Groce et al., 2011, p. 1502; Mitra et al., 2013, p. 2).
Environmental factors
Evidence from different countries is diverse, as the particular education facilities, labour market, and
social protection available in a given context can influence whether disability leads to poverty (Mitra et
al., 2013, p. 2; WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 40).
Where persons with disabilities face social marginalisation and lack of access to education, employment,
healthcare, legal representation and credit, they may be more marginalised if improving economic
conditions allow others to improve their quality of life (Groce et al., 2011, p. 1507). One study found that
the difference in economic well-being across disability status appears to be more often significant in
middle-income than low-income countries (Mitra et al., 2013, p. 7). Another study also found that the
disability gap in employment (people with disabilities have lower employment rates than people without
disabilities) is more common in middle-income than low-income countries (Mizunoya & Mitra, 2013, p.
38).
Differences can also be found within countries. In Vietnam, ‘districts with better healthcare and
infrastructure, such as roads and health services, show less of a link between disability and poverty’
(Mont & Nguyen, 2013). Some argue that the political ideology of a country can affect people with
disabilities’ experience of poverty (Gill & Schlund-Vials, 2014).
Personal/individual factors
Different types of impairments, age of acquisition, gender, ethnicity and rural or urban location all affect
how people with disabilities experience poverty (Groce et al., 2011, pp. 1502-1503). For instance, a study
using internationally comparable data of fifteen developing countries found that among people with
disabilities, ‘persons aged 40 and above and persons with multiple disabilities were more likely to be
multi-dimensionally poor’ (Mitra et al., 2013, p. 1). Children with disabilities are disproportionally likely to
live in poverty (HI & STC, 2011, p. viii; Trani et al., 2013, p. 404; Trani & Cannings, 2013, p. 58). A study in
Afghanistan found that girls with disabilities were more deprived on all dimensions of multidimensional
poverty than boys with disabilities (Groce et al., 2011, p. 1503). People with mental illness face higher
levels and intensity of poverty, partly as a result of stigma and prejudice (CCDRP, 2013, p. 1; Trani & Loeb,
2012, p. S32).
Studies indicate that ‘women with disabilities are more likely to be affected by poverty than men with
disabilities, and that unmarried women are the most vulnerable to poverty’ (Groce et al., 2011a, p. 17). In
contrast, in some countries, men who have been disabled by war are considered heroes and ‘often
escape poverty through privileged access to land, employment and public facilities’ (Trani & Loeb, 2012,
p. S32).
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Family and household poverty
Some studies have found that households with disabled family members had a lower mean income and
fewer assets than households without, although the evidence is mixed (Groce et al., 2011, p. 1501, 1503;
Mitra et al., 2013, p. 3; Woodburn, 2013, p. 80; WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 10). Three types of cost are
associated with disability at the household level:
 direct costs – including medical treatment and travel costs;
 opportunity costs as a result of lost income; and
 indirect costs relating to the provision of ‘care’ provided by family or community members
(Groce et al., 2011, p. 1503; UNICEF, 2013, p. 14).
Those caring for children or adults with disabilities are generally female, and they often give up incomegenerating activities to do so (Cordier, 2014, p. 554; Groce & Kett, 2014, p. 6; ESCAP, 2012, p. 15). A study
in Asia and the Pacific also finds that in households where people with disabilities support dependents,
they are unable to earn enough to fulfil those support responsibilities (ESCAP, 2012, p. 6). These studies
establish that ‘the root cause of the problem is not the person with a disability, but the social
marginalisation, and lack of access to basic resources such as education, employment, healthcare and
social support systems that link disability and poverty at the household level’ (Groce et al., 2011, pp.
1503-1504).
Access to jobs, livelihoods, and social protection programmes
A large majority of people with disabilities are either not employed, under-employed or earn lower
wages (Groce et al., 2011, p. 1499; WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 235; Heymann et al., 2014, pp. 4-5;
Mitra, 2014, p. 269). A study of 15 developing countries found that in nine of them there was a
statistically significant disability gap showing lower employment rates for people with disabilities
(Mizunoya & Mitra, 2013, p. 32).

Gender: The study of 15 developing countries also found that employment differences across
disability status are more pronounced among males than females (Mizunoya & Mitra, 2013, p.
38). However, other studies suggest that women with disabilities have worse employment rates
and wages than men with disabilities (Heymann et al., 2014, p. 5; ESCAP, 2012, p. 19;
Lamicchane, 2015, p. 248). A survey of 51 countries found that men with disabilities have an
employment rate of 52.8 per cent compared with 64.9 per cent for men without; and for women
the figures were 19.6 per cent and 29.9 per cent respectively (Mont, 2014, p. 23).

Disability type: People with intellectual disabilities, mental illnesses or multiple disabilities have
been found to be less likely than people with other disabilities to access the labour market
(Groce et al., 2011, p. 1499; Morgon Banks & Polack, 2014, pp. 35-36; Mizunoya & Mitra, 2013,
p. 16; WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 8). A study of Nepal, Cambodia and Bangladesh found that
people with physical impairments were less likely to find jobs than people with hearing and
visual impairments, even when they had longer periods of schooling (Lamicchane, 2015, p. 248).
The economic crisis
A study of 55 countries found that during the economic crisis many people with disabilities lost their jobs
and funding for employment support was cut, and recent evidence indicates that the disability
employment gap has been widening (Fembek et al., 2013, p. 15, 90; Heymann et al., 2014, p. 4).
Improving the livelihoods of people with disabilities
Attempts to improve the livelihoods of people with disabilities have involved efforts to include them in
social protection programmes and in the labour market (Rimmerman, 2013, pp. 82-82).
Disability inclusion: Topic guide, 2015
15
Formal employment
Barriers to participation in education and training place people with disabilities at a disadvantage in the
job market (Morgon Banks & Polack, 2014, p. 36; Fembek et al., 2013, p. 128; Mont, 2014, p. 25; Mitra,
2014, p. 275). In South Africa for example, the formal employment rate for people with disabilities is less
than a third of that of people without disabilities (Morgon Banks & Polack, 2014, p. 35). Young people
with disabilities find it particularly hard to get apprenticeships or training (Groce & Kett, 2014, pp. 7-8).
Even when people with disabilities have the required skills, additional barriers may include: their social
isolation limiting the development of networks; discriminatory attitudes and misconceptions by
employers; workplace harassment; low expectations of their capabilities by individuals with disabilities
and their families; inaccessible work environments and lack of accommodations; and discriminatory
legislation (Morgon Banks & Polack, 2014, pp. 36-37; Mizunoya & Mitra, 2013, p. 29; WHO & World Bank,
2011, p.236, 239-240, 250; Heymann et al., 2014, p. 6; Mont, 2014, p. 25; Mitra, 2014, pp. 276-280;
ESCAP, 2012, pp. 16-18). A study of disability and equity at work attributes much of the employment and
income disadvantages faced by people with disabilities to discrimination, both explicit and implicit
(Heymann et al., 2014, p. 6).
Box 1: Tackling barriers to employment
Overcoming the labour market barriers experienced by people with disabilities requires a range of
approaches, addressing constraints outside and inside the labour market (Heymann et al., 2014, p.
9; Mitra, 2014, p. 280). Labour market interventions include: anti-discrimination laws, hiring quotas,
wage subsidies, vocational rehabilitation and accommodation in the workplace (Rimmerman, 2013,
pp. 84-92; Fembek et al., 2013, p. 144; WHO & World Bank, 2011, p.235, 240-246; Mont, 2014, pp.
27-29; Mitra, 2014, pp. 284-293). The aim is to change attitudes in the workplace and amongst
people with disabilities and their families (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p.235; Mont, 2014, p. 32).
In developed countries, evidence shows that disability discrimination legislation has resulted in the
most significant progress in workplace accommodations for people with disabilities, although they
continue to experience disproportionally high rates of unemployment (Rimmerman, 2013, p. 92,
125). The size of the informal economy and limited legal implementation capacity in some
developing countries may limit the effectiveness of disability discrimination legislation there
(Heymann et al., 2014, p. 12).
There has been a lack of rigorous impact evaluations of employment programmes for people with
disabilities in low- and middle-income countries (Mont, 2014, p. 26). However, programmes
targeting the context-specific employment challenges of people with disabilities are more likely to
be successful in improving employment rates (Mitra, 2014). This would include making sure training
fulfilled market demands (Mont, 2014, p. 30). Separate employment programmes for people with
disabilities are less efficient and sustainable than including them in mainstream efforts (Mont, 2014,
p. 36). It is recommended that employment policies consider issues such as awareness raising,
inclusive education, inclusive healthcare, and accessible transport, and recognise that most
livelihood generating activities are not in the formal sector (Mont, 2014, pp. 37-38; Mitra, 2014, p.
294). Programmes that address multiple constraints to employment are promising, although there
is little available evidence on these (Mitra, 2014, p. 294). Social assistance can also have positive
effects on employment for people with disabilities (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p.248).
16
Informal employment
An estimated 80 per cent of economically active people with disabilities in developing countries are selfemployed, as this is often their only option (Leymat, 2012, p. 26; Groce et al., 2011, p. 1504; Morgon
Banks & Polack, 2014, p. 37; Mizunoya & Mitra, 2013, p. 35). Self-employment is associated with job
insecurity, and lack of pensions and other welfare benefits, while lack of education, skills training and
access to finance schemes creates further challenges (Groce et al., 2011, p. 1504; Morgon Banks &
Polack, 2014, p. iii, 37; Leymat, 2012, p. 26). In addition, stigma and prejudice towards people with
disabilities may prevent customers using their service (e.g. in Southern Africa customers will not buy food
from women with epilepsy, fearing that it is an infectious condition) (Groce et al., 2011, p. 1504).
Access to microfinance
Many microfinance institutions (MFIs) avoid clients with disabilities, who constitute less than one per
cent of clients for most MFIs (Groce et al., 2011, p. 1505; Leymat, 2012, p. 28). This is often as a result of
incorrect assumptions that people with disabilities will be unable to pay back the money borrowed
(Groce et al., 2011, p. 1505; Morgon Banks & Polack, 2014, p. 37; Leymat, 2012, p. 29; Mont, 2014, p. 33).
While some organisations of and for people with disabilities provide microfinance, they are often only
able to reach relatively small numbers of people, and their programmes are often not self-sustainable
(Leymat, 2012, pp. 33-34). People with disabilities may also feel they lack the financial skills to access
these services (Leymat, 2012, p. 29).
Box 2: Facilitating access to mainstream financial provision
A global survey looking at access to financial services for people with disabilities found that if they
are given the opportunity to access financial services, ‘many are capable of successfully managing
loans and businesses’ (Leymat, 2012, p. 25). It also found that the ‘most cost-efficient and
sustainable way of providing financial services for disabled people is to facilitate their access to
mainstream financial provision’ (Leymat, 2012, p. 30).
This has been done by: raising awareness among microfinance staff; establishing partnerships for
cooperation between organisations of/for people with disabilities and microfinance institutions;
promoting reasonable accommodation by adapting methodologies, product design, and
accessibility; or simply by supporting people with disabilities to submit their loan applications
(Leymat, 2012, pp. 30-33). Sensitisation of staff and outreach in a Ugandan microfinance institution
doubled the number of clients with disabilities, for example (Heymann et al., 2014, p. 11). Savings
schemes are currently one of the most effective ways people with disabilities can access
microfinance (Groce et al., 2011, p. 1505; Leymat, 2012, p. 35).
It should be noted that microfinance is not the only or best solution for all (Leymat, 2012, p. 35;
Burns et al., 2014, p. 31).
Begging
The strong links between disability and poverty also increase the likelihood of turning to begging, to earn
all or part of a living, in urban areas (Groce et al., 2014, pp. 1-3; Burns et al., 2014, p. 29, 31). In some
cultures begging is often considered ‘an acceptable way, and in some cases the only way, for people with
disabilities to make a living outside the home’ (Groce et al., 2014, p. 1, 4). A literature review found that
people with disabilities decide to beg as a result of a lack of social networks; internalised social stigma;
education and skills levels; limited employment prospects; social protection floors; and a downward
spiral of poverty (Groce et al., 2014, pp. 4-7).
Disability inclusion: Topic guide, 2015
17
People with disabilities often contribute to their households by doing unpaid labour (Groce et al., 2011,
p. 1504).
Social protection
A growing number of countries have social protection programmes that either target people with
disabilities or mainstream disability. Yet statistical and anecdotal evidence shows that many people with
disabilities are not reached by social protection programmes, because of varied barriers (Rohwerder,
2014, p. 5). Much work is needed to address these (Mitra, 2005, p. 18; Palmer, 2013, p. 148). Begging by
people with disabilities appears to be far less common in countries with established social protection
systems (Groce et al., 2014, p. 7).
Social protection programmes risk strengthening dependency and segregation, and reducing incentives
to work (Rimmerman, 2013, pp. 3-4; WHO & World Bank, 2011, p.248), although evidence supporting this
in low- and middle-income countries is lacking so far (Mitra, 2009, p. 516). In addition, social protection
programmes on their own will not eliminate the vulnerabilities people with disabilities face:
complementary programmes are needed to create an enabling environment (Rohwerder, 2014, p. 9).
Evidence on how safety nets affect people with disabilities is limited: more research is needed (WHO &
World Bank, 2011, p. 11).
Support and participation in society
Children and adults with disabilities are often isolated from mainstream social, cultural, and political
opportunities (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p.263; HI & STC, 2011, p. v; Trani & Cannings, 2013, p. 58).
Stigmatisation can lead to lack of registration of the birth of children with disabilities, which is a
fundamental barrier to their participation in society and increases their invisibility and vulnerability to
exploitation (UNICEF, 2013, p. 41). The World Report on Disability finds that people with disabilities often
have unmet needs for support services, personal care, access to aids and equipment, participation in
education, employment, and social activities, and modifications to the home or workplace (WHO & World
Bank, 2011, p. 40, 137). Lack of support prevents many people with disabilities from achieving a good
quality of life and participating in social and economic life on an equal basis with others (WHO & World
Bank, 2011, p. 137).
Provision of assistance and support
People’s need for assistance and support will depend on ‘environmental factors, the stage of life, the
underlying health conditions, and the level of individual functioning’ (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p.138).
Formal services are inadequate (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p.157). Due to the lack of investment in
rehabilitation, only 5-15 per cent of people with disabilities in low- and middle-income countries receive
assistive devices (Morgon Banks & Polack, 2014, p. 47). In addition, as children and adolescents grow,
their assistive devices need to be replaced every year or two (Groce & Kett, 2014, p. 7). They are often
expensive, yet ill-fitting devices reduce the young people’s confidence and ability to participate (Groce &
Kett, 2014, p. 7; UNICEF, 2013, p.18).
People with disabilities often rely on informal care from family and friends, but this is sometimes
unavailable, inadequate or insufficient (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 139, 157; Burns et al., 2014, p. 39).
Barriers to assistance and support include: lack of awareness and funding; lack of adequate human
resources; inappropriate policies and institutional frameworks; inadequate and unresponsive services;
poor service coordination; and attitudes and abuse (WHO & World Bank, 2011, pp. 144-147).
18
Exclusion from society
People with disabilities often encounter negative attitudes held by government officials, policy makers,
community members ‒ and even family members ‒ which results in their exclusion from society (Groce et
al., 2011, p. 1499; Groce & Kett, 2014, pp. 10-11; Burns et al., 2014, pp. 39-41). Negative social attitudes
can result in disabled people’s families keeping them hidden at home or sending them to institutions
(Groce & Kett, 2014, p. 5). Hundreds of thousands of children with disabilities continue to live in
institutions, as do many adults with intellectual disabilities (Groce & Kett, 2014, p. 12; UNICEF, 2013, pp.
46-47; Scior et al., 2015, p. 60). People with disabilities are sometimes denied the right to marry or have
families of their own (Groce & Kett, 2014, p. 10; Ortoleva & Lewis, 2012, p. 75; Fembek et al., 2013, p.
69). In addition, a study in Afghanistan and Zambia shows a ‘significant relationship between disability,
unemployment and being single’, which excludes people with disabilities, as marriage is often considered
a ‘major step in the process of gaining a rightful place within society’ (Trani & Loeb, 2012, p. S33).
Impact on families
Family members can also face discrimination by association (PPUA Penca, 2013, p. 15; Burns et al., 2014,
pp. 43-44). This sometimes results in them developing a negative attitude towards their relative with
disabilities (PPUA Penca, 2013, p. 15; Burns et al., 2014, p. 39). Negative attitudes about disability
especially disadvantage mothers, who are ‘blamed’ in some cultures for having a child with a disability
(Inclusion Intl., 2006, p. 63). This, combined with mothers generally bearing the majority of the care
giving responsibilities, often devalues and isolates them (Inclusion Intl., 2006, p. 63).
Political participation
People with disabilities have often been excluded from playing an active part in the political process in
their own countries and wider international development processes (Groce et al., 2011, p. 1499; Balmas
et al., 2015, p. 11). They face challenges in exercising their fundamental right as a citizen to vote in
elections (PPUA Penca, 2013, p. 8). Existing laws can confuse and discriminate against the political rights
of people with disabilities (PPUA Penca, 2013, p. 11; Balmas et al., 2015, p. 13; WHO & World Bank, 2011,
p. 171). People with intellectual disabilities are often prevented from voting as they are perceived as
having ‘limited capacity to vote’ (Balmas et al., 2015, p. 13). Polling stations are often located in
inaccessible places and their staff do not have training to assist people with disabilities (PPUA Penca,
2013, p. 8; WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 171). People with disabilities also face difficulties in accessing
information about voter registration and the candidates, and many are even prevented from registering
as voters (PPUA Penca, 2013, p. 8; WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 171).
In addition, people with disabilities may be prevented from standing as candidates (PPUA Penca, 2013, p.
12). For example, in Indonesia, candidates are required to be literate to stand for legislative election, but
it is unclear whether the ability to read braille is acceptable as a test of literacy (PPUA Penca, 2013, p. 12).
Education
Studies across the world have found that children with disabilities are less likely to go to school than
children without disabilities and are more likely to drop out (Groce et al., 2011, p. 1498; Morgon Banks &
Polack, 2014, p. 26; Groce & Kett, 2014, p. 8; EFA, 2015, p. 101; WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 206;
UNICEF, 2013, p. 27; HRW, 2012, p. 10; Trani et al., 2011, p. 1198). For example, a study in Afghanistan
found that the proportion of non-disabled children accessing school is almost twice as high as the
proportion of children with disabilities (Trani et al., 2012, p. 352).
Disability inclusion: Topic guide, 2015
19

Gender: Girls with disabilities are even less likely to receive an education than boys with
disabilities (Trani & Loeb, 2012, p. S32; EFA, 2015, p. 101; WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 206;
Trani et al., 2011, p. 1198).

Disability type: Children with physical impairments are generally more likely to be enrolled than
those with intellectual or sensory impairments (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 207; Inclusion Intl.,
2006, pp. 32-35; Trani et al., 2012, p. 355).
Some parents of children with disabilities say that without school, they have no choice but to lock up or
tie up their children while they go to work or complete daily chores (HRW, 2012, P. 10). Scarce data about
children with disabilities means the ‘scale of the challenge is likely underestimated’ (EFA, 2015, p. 78).
Barriers to education
The reasons for the low educational levels of children with disabilities can include:
 inaccessible school buildings (e.g. multi-storey with no lifts, inaccessible toilets);

limited communication modes (e.g. no materials in Braille);

location, combined with lack of transport links;

stigmatisation and bullying;

lack of teacher confidence and training;

low expectations of children with disabilities;

prohibitive costs and inadequate resources; and

policies that prevent inclusive education ‒ e.g. special education is under the jurisdiction of
ministries for health or social welfare rather than the ministry of education
(Morgon Banks & Polack, 2014, pp. 27-28; Srivastava et al., 2015, p. 189 Groce & Kett, 2014, p. 7;
Groce & Bakhshi, 2011, p. 1155; WHO & World Bank, 2011, pp. 212-216; UNICEF, 2013, p. 26, 32,
36; HRW, 2012, p. 10; Bruijn et al., 2012, p. 52; HRW, 2012, p. 13; Trani et al., 2011, p. 1190;
Burns et al., 2014, pp. 26-28).
Long-term implications
Lack of access to education for children with disabilities has repercussions throughout their lives. The
well-established links between illiteracy or marginal literacy and poverty significantly increase the
likelihood that they will raise their own children in poverty (Groce et al., 2011, p. 1498; Groce & Bakhshi,
2011, p. 1161; WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 10; Barron & Ncube, 2010, pp. 12-13). Some estimate that
literacy rates for adults with disabilities in developing countries are possibly as low as three per cent
overall and one per cent for women with disabilities, although little attention is paid to this issue in the
literature and the methodology is unclear (Groce & Bakhshi, 2011, p. 1153, 1158-1159). Fifty per cent of
people in India with mild to moderate disabilities are thought to be illiterate, which is still significantly
low (Groce & Bakhshi, 2011, p. 1158). Despite these low literacy rates, some experts in development
‘clearly stated that the literacy needs of disabled adults were low priority – to be addressed only after
literacy rates in the general population improved’ (Groce & Bakhshi, 2011, p. 1161). These adults with
disabilities will find it difficult to break the links between disability and poverty (Groce & Bakhshi, 2011, p.
1154, 1161).
In addition, exclusion from schools denies children with disabilities an opportunity for social networking
and community participation, as well as all sorts of medical, social, nutritional and developmental
resources, which can lead to isolation, decreased autonomy, and lower quality of life (Morgon Banks &
Polack, 2014, p. 34; Trani et al., 2011, p. 1200; WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 205). Caregivers have a
20
heightened risk of depression and limits on their own independence as a result of the increased
dependency burden (Morgon Banks & Polack, 2014, p. 34). Exclusion from mainstream education also
helps propagate discriminatory attitudes at the societal level, creating further barriers to participation
in other domains (Morgon Banks & Polack, 2014, p. 34; UNICEF, 2013, p. 27).
Debates over the type of education
There is debate about whether children with certain types of disabilities learn best in specialised schools
or general classrooms (Groce & Bakhshi, 2011, p. 1154; WHO & World Bank, 2011, pp. 211-212). A
systematic review found a lack of evidence about the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of approaches
to increasing inclusive education (Bakhshi et al., 2013, p.10, 34). However, the World Report on Disability
noted that it is generally agreed that inclusive schools are more cost-effective than special schools (WHO
& World Bank, 2011, p.220).
Inclusive education
Inclusive education has become part of the international agenda, partly running parallel to the objective
of Education for All (EFA) (Srivastava et al., 2015, p. 179). It entails ‘providing meaningful learning
opportunities for all students within the regular school system’ (UNICEF, 2013, p. 28). Strong and
continuous leadership at the national and school levels is identified as one of the most important
elements in an inclusive education system (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p.216). However, there is no
universal definition of inclusive education, which causes difficulties in implementing coherent and
sustainable programmes (EFA, 2015, p. 101; Bakhshi et al., 2013, p.7; WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 209).
Issues with implementation
Inclusive education is more than the presence of students with disabilities in schools, which will not
automatically lead to positive academic or social outcomes (Srivastava et al., 2015, p. 190; WHO & World
Bank, 2011, p. 233; Bakhshi et al., 2013, p. 6). However, many programmes have ended up at this
minimum standard as a result of ‘lack of resources, teacher training and expectations, and expertise, as
well as persistence of negative social attitudes leading to discrimination and exclusion’ (Bakhshi et al.,
2013, p. 7). Inclusive education manuals to support teacher training should be grounded in the
educational realities in low-income countries (Le Fanu, 2015, p. 273).
Lack of projects
In addition, one study found few projects on inclusion of students with disabilities (Srivastava et al., 2015,
p. 189). Many estimates also indicate that inclusive education efforts are still not reaching 90 per cent of
all children with disabilities in developing countries (Groce & Bakhshi, 2011, p. 1156; Srivastava et al.,
2015, p. 189). There are concerns that the factors that helped implement inclusive education in Western
countries may not be applicable in developing countries (Srivastava et al., 2015, p. 181; Le Fanu, 2015, p.
273).
Health
Having a disability is not synonymous with having a health problem: many persons with disabilities live
healthy lives. People with disabilities often have a diverse range of health needs (WHO & World Bank,
2011).
However, there is some evidence that, collectively, they experience poorer levels of health and require
more healthcare than the general population (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 57; Morgon Banks & Polack,
2014, p. 50). Increasing evidence also indicates that exclusion from care and treatment for both general
Disability inclusion: Topic guide, 2015
21
and disability-specific health needs leads to poorer health outcomes among people with disabilities
(WHO & World Bank, 2011, p.57; Morgon Banks & Polack, 2014, p. 48). Mortality rates for children with
disabilities are estimated to be as high as 80 per cent in countries where under-five mortality as a whole
has decreased to below 20 per cent ‒ this cannot solely be ascribed to genetic or bio-medical factors
(Inclusion Intl., 2006, p. 39).
Healthcare challenges
People with disabilities may face inequities in access, quality and delivery of care in mainstream health
services, leading to poorer overall treatment outcomes (Morgon Banks & Polack, 2014, p. 47). Health
facilities are often inaccessible; information is often not communicated appropriately; transport is often
not accessible or affordable; health services are often not affordable; misconceptions and stigma around
disability may prevent families seeking healthcare; and discrimination by healthcare providers may limit
provision of appropriate services (Morgon Banks & Polack, 2014, pp. 48-49; Fembek et al., 2013, p. 81;
WHO & World Bank, 2011, pp.62-63, 70-72, 77; Burns et al., 2014, p. 34). For example, the incorrect but
common assumption that people with disabilities are sexually inactive limits provision of sexual and
reproductive healthcare, and women with disabilities may experience ‘forced and/or coerced
sterilisation, forced contraception and/or limited or no contraceptive choices, a focus on menstrual and
sexual suppression, poorly managed pregnancy and birth, [and] forced or coerced abortion’ (Frohmader
& Ortoleva, 2013, p. 2; see also: Morgon Banks & Polack, 2014, p. 49; Ortoleva & Lewis, 2012, p. 41;
HRW, 2012, p. 9).
In addition, healthcare workers are often unfamiliar with people with disabilities. They hesitate to take on
routine care in the mistaken belief that specialist care is always needed (Groce & Kett, 2014, p. 6; WHO &
World Bank, 2011, p.77).
Healthcare costs and poverty
A study in Vietnam found that the economic burden of healthcare, especially in relation to medication
and travel costs, was greatest for people with disabilities, around 12 per cent of whom experience
catastrophic expenditure (40 per cent non-food expenditure) (Palmer, 2014, p. 389, 392). Such high outof-pocket medical costs for people with disabilities can exacerbate poverty (Morgon Banks & Polack,
2014, pp. 49-51).
Lack of access to, or delay in, appropriate healthcare may lead to higher medical and productivity costs in
the long term as a result of continuously poor or worsening levels of functioning, with associated costs
for wider society (Morgon Banks & Polack, 2014, p. 51).
Public health campaigns
Failure to include people with disabilities in public heath interventions may impede the effectiveness and
efficiency of these programmes (Morgon Banks & Polack, 2014, p. iv, 48, 52; WHO & World Bank, 2011,
pp.60-61). There is increasing evidence that people with disabilities, especially women, are at increased
risk of contracting HIV. This is partly because of sexual violence due to the persistence of the myth that
sex with a virgin can cure AIDS (Morgon Banks & Polack, 2014, p. 52; Ortoleva & Lewis, 2012, p. 14; HRW,
2012, pp. 8-9). However, they are frequently overlooked in preventative measures, which could lead to
very high individual and societal costs (Morgon Banks & Polack, 2014, p. 52; HRW, 2012, p. 8). Many
children with disabilities are not included in immunisation efforts, although they are at the same risk of
childhood diseases (UNICEF, 2013, p.23). A growing body of research indicates that young people with
disabilities are at equal or greater risk for smoking, alcohol consumption and unsafe sex, yet public heath
campaigns are often inaccessible to them (Groce & Kett, 2014, p. 6, 11; UNICEF, 2013, p. 26).
22
Nutrition
The nutritional needs of children and adults with disabilities are rarely addressed, as a result of:
 less access to health and social services;
 lack of awareness and ineffective communication on the part of health and development
professionals; and
 public health campaigns that do not consider the special needs of people with disabilities (Groce
et al., 2013, p. e180).
People with disabilities are sometimes deliberately omitted from nutrition outreach efforts as their lives
are less valued (Groce et al., 2013, p. e180). Poor knowledge and stigma among caregivers can result in
some children and adults with disabilities, such as severe cerebral palsy, suffering from undernutrition
and failure to thrive as a result of inadequate feeding (Groce et al., 2013, p. e180-e181; UNICEF, 2013,
p.25). People with disabilities can be denied food or offered less food than other household members
(Groce et al., 2013, p. e181).
Water and sanitation
Lack of access to safe water and basic sanitation can exacerbate impairments and poverty for people
with disabilities (Wilbur et al., 2013, p. 1). The extent to which people with disabilities lack access to safe
water and sanitation is unknown (Wilbur et al., 2013, p. 1). However, studies show that people with
disabilities face difficulties collecting water due to the distance to travel to the water pump, and heavy
pump handles and water containers (Wilbur et al., 2013, p. 2; UNICEF, 2013, p. 25). In addition, they are
sometimes discouraged from using water sources or forced to wait longer in line as a result of being
considered unclean (Wilbur et al., 2013, p. 2; UNICEF, 2013, p. 25).
Having to use other WASH facilities, or use them at different times, increases the risk of accidents and
physical attacks, including rape, especially for girls (UNICEF, 2013, p. 25). Toilets are often inaccessible
and there have been cases where people have soiled themselves as a result (Wilbur et al., 2013, p. 2).
Lack of accessible toilets can prevent children with disabilities from attending school (UNICEF, 2013, p.
26). Being viewed as ‘dirty’ can negatively affect people’s dignity and ability or desire to take part in the
community, as well as lowering their self-esteem and willingness to assert their rights (Wilbur et al.,
2013, p. 3). Communities are often unaware of how to make facilities accessible for people with
disabilities (Wilbur et al., 2013, p. 3).
Disability inclusion: Topic guide, 2015
23
Accessibility: Transport, infrastructure and digital technology
Lack of accessibility of the physical environment, information and public services prevents people with
disabilities from living independently and participating fully in all aspects of life (DESA, 2013, p. 4; Al
Ju’beh, 2015, p. 54). See also environmental barriers.
Transport
Inaccessible transport has been cited in a number of studies as a key barrier to people with disabilities
accessing healthcare and employment, especially those living in rural areas (Morgon Banks & Polack,
2014, p. 48; WHO & World Bank, 2011, p.66; Mont, 2014, p. 25). A recent survey by the Zero Project of
150 countries found that only three per cent of respondents believe that the public transport system in
the capital is accessible for all (Balmas et al., 2015, p. 11). Barriers to accessible transport include: lack of
effective programmes; obstacles to special transport services and accessible taxis; physical and
informational barriers; lack of continuity in the travel chain; lack of pedestrian access; and lack of staff
awareness and negative attitudes (WHO & World Bank, 2011, pp. 178-179). Without accessible transport,
people with disabilities are more likely to be excluded from services and social contact (WHO & World
Bank, 2011, p. 170).
Infrastructure
In many countries accessibility requirements have yet to be integrated into all aspects of the planning
and design of buildings. This has led to inaccessible or separate ‒ and generally inequitable ‒ services
(DESA, 2013, p. 13; WHO & World Bank, 2011, pp. 173-174).
Experience shows that mandatory minimum standards are necessary, as voluntary efforts on accessibility
are not sufficient to remove barriers (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 173).
Retrofitting for accessibility is more expensive ‒ by up to 20 per cent of the original cost ‒ than
integrating accessibility into new buildings (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 173; UNICEF, 2013, p. 19). It is
generally feasible to meet accessibility requirements at one per cent of the total cost (WHO & World
Bank, 2011, p. 173).
Digital technology
Lack of accessibility in the ‘design, development and production of telecommunication services and
products and digital literacy can prevent a substantial number of people with disabilities from achieving
social inclusion’ (Rimmerman, 2013, p. 3, 76; see also WHO & World Bank, 2011, pp. 170-172). The Zero
Project finds that it is not only cost that prevents people with disabilities from accessing digital
technology, but lack of political will to define standards for software and hardware (Fembek et al., 2014,
p. 33; WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 185). In addition, mainstream devices may be incompatible with
assistive devices, especially given the rapid pace of technological change (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p.
184, 186).
24
Box 3: Implementing accessibility
Increased opportunities for successful implementation of accessibility are suggested to arise
from a combination of a top-down approach, with nationally legislated minimum requirements
(the most common approach), and a participatory, bottom-up approach, as well as applying the
principle of universal design (DESA, 2013, p. 12, 18). Technological developments can also
contribute to a more accessible environment (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 4). There are
suggestions that an incremental approach, which creates a ‘culture of accessibility’, makes it
easier to raise standards (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 169).
Accessibility approaches need to take into account constraints including affordability,
competing priorities, availability of technology and knowledge, and cultural differences; as well
as being based on evidence of what works (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 169, 174). Attitudinal
barriers need to be tackled as much as physical barriers, through education and awareness
raising (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 169).
Standards
The World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, The United Nations Standard
Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities and The Convention on
the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, require that governments and the international
community to recognise the importance of accessibility in ensuring the equalization of
opportunities for persons with disabilities by empowering them to ‘live independently and
participate fully in all aspects of life’ (DESA, 2013, pp. 3-4). Individual states can have their own
accessibility standards. See also the Toolkits in Section 6.
An evaluation of disability inclusion programmes found that it is important to remember that ‘access by
and inclusion of disabled people are not the same thing – each require a different strategy’ (Coe, 2012, p.
400). Sometimes the provision of ramps is felt to be all that is needed for disability inclusion, when in fact
is just enables access for physically impaired people (Coe, 2012, p. 406).
Box 4: Universal design
Universal design is an approach to design based on the ‘premise that design processes must be
inclusive, produce equitable benefits and be appropriate to human functioning, gender,
demographic group and social, economic and cultural setting and historical development
experience’ (DESA, 2013, p. 18). Its seven principles are: equitable use; flexibility in use; simple
and intuitive use; perceptible information; tolerance for error; low physical effort; and size and
space for approach and use’ (UNICEF, 2013, p. 19). It is practical and affordable, even in
developing countries (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 177).
‘Building accessibility and the principle of universal design into the international development
agenda would ensure that every environment, space, product or service, whether physical or
virtual, could be easily approached, reached, entered, exited, interacted with, understood or
otherwise used by persons of varying capabilities’ (DESA, 2013, p. 25).
Disability inclusion: Topic guide, 2015
25
Rates of violence
A systematic review found that adults with disabilities were ‘at a higher risk of violence than are nondisabled adults, and those with mental illnesses could be particularly vulnerable’, although robust studies
are absent and there are large gaps in knowledge about the prevalence and risk of violence against adults
and children with disabilities (Hughes et al., 2012, p. 2, 8, 9; Mikton & Shakespeare, 2014, p. 3056).
Children with disabilities are estimated to be three to four times more likely to be victims of violence
(UNICEF, 2013, p. 44). Some studies also show that people with intellectual disabilities had the ‘highest
population rates of violence compared with both the general population and individuals with other
disability types’ (Hughes et al., 2012, p. 8; Inclusion Intl., 2006, p. 45). In addition, there are reports of
hate crimes against people with disabilities, and physical violence and sexual abuse against people with
disabilities in homes, institutions, communities and other settings (Hughes et al., 2012, p. 3).
Contributing factors to increased risk
People with disabilities are at increased risk of interpersonal violence because of: ‘exclusion from
education and employment, the need for personal assistance with daily living, reduced physical and
emotional defences, communication barriers that hamper the reporting of violence, societal stigma, and
discrimination’ (Hughes at al., 2012, p. 1621; see also Ortoleva & Lewis, 2012, p. 42, 79-83 and HRW,
2012, p. 5). Residential care is also a major risk factor for sexual and physical abuse (UNICEF, 2013, pp.
45-47; HRW, 2012, p. 14). Stigma and stereotyping may result in their complaints not being taken
seriously or believed, while the justice system is often inaccessible to them (Ortoleva & Lewis, 2012, p.
38, 59-74, 85-88).
Both children and young women and men with disabilities are ‘especially vulnerable as a result of
entrenched social and structural discrimination against them’, which results in children being
‘uninformed about their rights, finding themselves in environments where they are vulnerable to sexual
violence and, if they are violated, with little opportunity to receive medical, legal or psychosocial support’
(HI & STC, 2011, p. vi). Many abusers believe that these young people will be unable to report the abuse
or will not be believed (Groce & Kett, 2014, p. 12; UNICEF, 2013, p. 41, 44; HI & STC, 2011, p. viii).
Unfortunately this is often the case as people in authority may have little knowledge about people with
disabilities (Groce et al., 2014, p. 12). The perpetrators enjoy almost total impunity (HI & STC, 2011, p. 5).
Women and girls
Women and girls with disabilities are at heightened risk of ‘physical, psychological, sexual or financial
violence, neglect, social isolation, entrapment, degradation, detention, denial of health care and forced
sterilization and psychiatric treatment’, at home, in the community, and in refugee camps (Ortoleva &
Lewis, 2012, p. 16, 38-59; HRW, 2012, p. 5; WRC, 2015, p. 1; Barriga and Kwon, 2010; Burns et al., 2014,
p. 52). In addition, they are especially vulnerable to trafficking (Ortoleva & Lewis, 2012, pp. 77-78).
Women with disabilities are at least ‘twice as likely to experience domestic violence and other forms of
gender-based and sexual violence as non-disabled women, and are likely to experience abuse over a
longer period of time and to suffer more severe injuries as a result of the violence’ (Ortoleva & Lewis,
2012, p. 16; HRW, 2012, p. 5; Astbury & Walji, 2013, p. 22).
People with intellectual and mental disabilities are at particular risk of sexual abuse, especially girls and
women (Morgon Banks & Polack, 2014, p. 50; WRC, 2015, p. 1; 45; Astbury & Walji, 2013, 8).
There is a long history of ‘socially – and even legally – sanctioned forced and non-consensual
sterilization’ of women and girls with disabilities, particularly of women with intellectual disabilities
26
(Ortoleva & Lewis, 2012, pp. 42-43; Fembek et al., 2013, p. 69; UNICEF, 2013, p. 41; HRW, 2012, p. 6;
Frohmader & Ortoleva, 2013, pp. 4-5).
Impact
Lack of access to gender-based violence prevention activities and response services can result in limited
access to food, shelter, healthcare, safe working environments, marriage and social integration for
people with disabilities (WRC, 2015, pp. 1-2; Ortoleva & Lewis, 2012, p. 91). Women with disabilities who
have experienced violence are at increased risk of homelessness, poverty and unemployment, increased
disability and ill-health (Ortoleva & Lewis, 2012, pp. 90-91).
Access to justice
A study of access to justice for people with disabilities found that while there are often laws in place to
prevent discrimination against people with disabilities, they are not effectively implemented; and
professionals feel that access to justice is sometimes or usually harder for people with disabilities
(Brooks et al., 2013, p. 15, 29). A study in Sri Lanka found that women with disabilities have little legal
literacy, while laws are not freely available in accessible forms (Samararatne & Soldatic, 2015, pp. 764764).
This exclusion can be caused by various factors in all institutions of the justice system, including
discrimination, poverty, low institutional trust or confidence in the process, lack of capacity (both staff in
the judicial system and people with disabilities), communication barriers, weak access to information, or
living in remote areas with a lack of judicial facilities (Brooks et al., 2013, p. 9, 17; Ortoleva & Lewis, 2012,
p. 59). There is reported to be a systematic failure of the court system to acknowledge women with
disabilities as competent witnesses (Ortoleva & Lewis, 2012, p. 71). As a result of problems with access to
justice, there is said to be ‘an atmosphere of impunity surrounding abuses committed against people
with disabilities’ (Brooks et al., 2013, p. 9).
Disaster risk reduction
People with disabilities are often excluded from disaster management and risk reduction processes
(UNISDR, 2014; Smith et al., 2012, p. 5). A survey of people with disabilities by the UN Office of Disaster
Risk Reduction (UNISDR) found that 85.57 per cent of respondents from 137 countries had not
participated in community disaster management and risk reduction processes currently in place in their
communities. However, only 20.6 per cent of respondents believe they can evacuate immediately
without difficulty in the event of a sudden disaster event (UNISDR, 2014, p. 2). Most rely on the support
of family (UNISDR, 2014). In addition, the Zero Project found that many countries surveyed did not have
early warning systems accessible to all people with disabilities (Fembek et al., 2013, p. 51; Kett & Twigg,
2007, p. 99; Smith et al., 2012, p. 6).
However, the new Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (para 11 & target 11b) now
includes five references to persons with disabilities and an additional two references to universal design
(Stough & Kang, 2015).
Risk and mortality
Wide neglect of the needs of people with disabilities in official planning processes has increased death
rates of people with disabilities and reduced their inclusion in disaster response (UNISDR, 2014, p. 4, 12;
Smith et al., 2012, p. 4). People in wheelchairs or with other mobility impairments have died as a result of
inaccessible evacuation procedures in events such as tsunamis and floods (Osamu, 2014, p. 144). People
Disability inclusion: Topic guide, 2015
27
with sensory disabilities have been unable to escape on time as warnings were not provided in accessible
formats (Osamu, 2014, p. 144).
Conflict and emergencies
Disasters and conflicts exacerbate existing disabilities and create new ones (Mitchell & Karr, 2014, p.
226). It is generally agreed they have a disproportionate impact on people with disabilities, although
there is little available evidence of the pathways leading to this increased vulnerability (Mitchell & Karr,
2014, p. 228; Smith et al., 2012, p. 2). People with disabilities are particularly at risk of marginalisation
and discrimination as a result of exclusionary policies and practices by communities and humanitarian
agencies (Kett & Twigg, 2007, p. 87, 91).
Natural disasters
According to emergency management statistics, people with disabilities die in far higher percentages of
the population than other people in natural disasters (Mitchell & Karr, 2014, p. 1). In the 2011 Japanese
earthquake and tsunami, for instance, people with disabilities were twice as likely to die as other people
in the population (Osamu, 2014, p. 143).
Conflict
People with disabilities have also been reported to be directly targeted during conflict (Rohwerder, 2013,
pp. 773-774). In Iraq, there were reports of people with Down’s syndrome being used as suicide bombers
(Rohwerder, 2013, p. 774). In conflict, people with disabilities are also at increased risk of death and
injury as a result of mobility challenges and communication problems, which may make it harder to flee
violence (Rohwerder, 2013, p. 774). The disruption and destruction of services and social safety nets
caused by conflict can reduce the quality of life of people with disabilities (Rohwerder, 2013, pp. 774-775;
Kett, 2010, p. 345). It can be assumed that people with disabilities will experience poverty in conflict
contexts, as conflict exacerbates prior conditions of poverty, discrimination and social exclusion, although
more research is needed on the casual links between disability and poverty in countries affected by
conflict (Kett, 2010, p. 342, 355, 364).
Flight and refugees
Refugees with disabilities are ‘among the most isolated, socially excluded and marginalized of all
displaced populations’ (WRC, 2008, p. 1). People with disabilities may be abandoned by their families as
they flee conflict or disaster (Kett & Twigg, 2007, p. 97). When they are taken along, people with
disabilities have sometimes been denied access to shelters, or have felt they should leave because of
discrimination they faced in the shelter (UNISDR, 2014, p. 4; Kett & Twigg, 2007, pp. 92-93, 101).
People with disabilities can become more dependent and isolated as a result of the loss of their assistive
and mobility devices, services, and support structures (Kett & Twigg, 2007, p. 100; Kett, 2010, p. 346;
WRC, 2008, p. 2). Attitudinal, physical and social barriers means they are excluded from or unable to
access mainstream assistance programmes (WRC, 2008, p. 2). Services provided in camps such as toilets
and schools may not be built to be accessible (Mitchell & Karr, 2014, p. 1; WRC, 2008, p. 3; Smith et al.,
2012, p. 6). Food distribution procedures are often inaccessible, especially for those with physical or
visual impairments, or put people with disabilities at risk (Mitchell & Karr, 2014, p. 1; WRC, 2008, p. 3;
Smith et al., 2012, p. 7). There is a lack of specialised healthcare and accessible healthcare facilities (WRC,
2008, p. 3). Access to vocational and skills training, income-generation and employment opportunities for
refugees with disabilities varies considerably (WRC, 2008, p. 3).
28
There are few opportunities for formal participation of refugees with disabilities in camp management
and programme planning, implementation and management (WRC, 2008, p. 4). People with disabilities,
especially women and girls, are also at increased risk of physical and sexual violence, discrimination and
harassment (WRC, 2015; Mitchell & Karr, 2014, p. 1; Kett & Twigg, 2007, p. 91; WRC, 2008, p. 4; Barriga
and Kwon, 2010).
Vulnerability and capability
Research has shown that people with disabilities face acute vulnerability to economic crises and political
upheavals, but are less likely than non-disabled community members to benefit from interventions or
humanitarian assistance put in place in response to these shocks (Groce et al., 2011, p. 1499). However, it
is also important to note that people with disabilities are disproportionately vulnerable ‘primarily as a
consequence of social disadvantage, poverty and structural exclusion’ rather than because of any
inherent vulnerability (Hemingway and Priestley, 2006, p. 64). Many people with disabilities have skills,
experience and other capabilities that can assist them in disasters, and which can be used more widely in
disaster risk reduction or emergency response (Kett & Twigg, 2007, p. 103). People with disabilities have
been actively involved in disaster risk reduction or emergency response across the world (Kett & Twigg,
2007, pp. 102-105).
Humanitarian response
Often data on people in need in humanitarian responses are not disaggregated and people with
disabilities are not accounted for, which marginalises them further (UNISDR, 2014, p. 14; Mitchell & Karr,
2014, p. 1; Kett & Twigg, 2007, p. 95; WRC, 2008, p. 2; Smith et al., 2012, p. 4). Humanitarian agencies
often refer people with disabilities to specialist agencies, rather than making their own services
accessible, which perpetuates discrimination and exclusion (Kett & Twigg, 2007, p. 94). People with
disabilities have many of the same needs as everyone else in an emergency (food, shelter, WASH), but it
is how they are provided that matters (Kett & Twigg, 2007, p. 94). Perceived expense can also contribute
to the exclusion of people with disabilities, despite evidence suggesting accessible facilities involve only
minimal extra costs (Kett & Twigg, 2007, p. 94).
Diverse needs
People with disabilities have diverse needs, which may be overlooked in humanitarian response (Mitchell
& Karr, 2014, p. 227). For instance, a focus on people who have become physically impaired as a result of
emergencies may lead to neglect of those already living with disabilities (Rohwerder, 2013, p. 779).
Children with disabilities also face particular challenges in emergencies (UNICEF, 2013, pp. 49-53;
Mitchell & Karr, 2014, pp. 228-229).
Post-conflict reconstruction
The long-term effects of conflict and emergencies on people with disabilities is under-researched, but
they are often left out of the reconstruction process (Kett, 2010, p. 343; Samararatne & Soldatic, 2015,
p. 763). Women with disabilities have been found to be at risk of being left behind during repatriation
efforts (Barriga and Kwon, 2010, p. 6), and disabled women living in rural post-conflict areas ‘face the
greatest of difficulties in the peace-building process, and are more vulnerable to forms of physical and
sexual violence, exploitation and extreme forms of abject poverty’ (Samararatne & Soldatic, 2015, p.
759).
People with disabilities may face difficulties in taking advantage of the distribution of food and rebuilding
materials in the recovery phase (Kett, 2010, p. 346). Immediate post-conflict support for people with
Disability inclusion: Topic guide, 2015
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disabilities may not be designed in a sustainable way; for example, the camps for amputees in Sierra
Leone were located too far from urban centres, which reduced opportunities for integration, schooling,
shopping and employment (Kett, 2010, p. 358). A World Bank assessment in Sierra Leone also found that
people with physical and psychological disabilities were amongst the poorest segments of the population
in the post-conflict period (Kett, 2010, p. 356). Until recently, children with disabilities were rarely
considered in post-conflict education strategies or reconstruction and development programmes (Trani
et al., 2011, p. 1190).
Opportunities for people with disabilities
Some emergencies have resulted in unexpected opportunities, such as the formation of disabled people’s
organisations which lobby to get disability issues on the government agenda, as in post-conflict Sierra
Leone and Liberia (Kett & Twigg, 2007, p. 94; Kett, 2010, p. 348, 360-361). Disabled veterans may have
political power as ‘war heroes’, which can be used to raise awareness and make disability a priority within
the post-conflict reconstruction process (Irvine, 2014, p. 163). However, some governments do not
automatically extend rights and benefits given to war victims and disabled ex-combatants to all people
with disabilities: it took almost 30 years for Nicaragua to do so (Meyers, 2014, p. 197).
Box 5: ‘Build back better’ after emergencies
Experiences from post-emergency situations also suggest that crises can advance disability-inclusive
development goals. They can provide opportunities to challenge prejudice and discrimination and
‘build back better’ by ensuring comprehensive accessibility in post-emergency reconstruction
(Mitchell & Karr, 2014, pp. 3-4). South Africa’s progressive disability policy, for instance, was
introduced post-apartheid with the strong influence of South Africa’s disability movement (Irvine,
2014). The influx of organisations and services after an emergency can improve services for some
people with disabilities (Kett & Twigg, 2007, p. 95).
Macro-economic costs of disability exclusion
The exclusion of people with disabilities involves losses in productivity and human potential (DFID, 2000,
p. 4), which have economic costs for societies (Buckup, 2010). One study in Bangladesh found that,
‘reductions in wage earnings attributed to lower levels of education among people with disabilities and
their child caregivers were estimated to cost the economy USD 54 million per year’ (Morgon Banks &
Polack, 2014, p. ii). In addition, the ‘exclusion of people with disabilities from the labour market results in
a total loss of USD 891 million/year; income losses among adult caregivers adds an additional loss of USD
234 million/year’ (Morgon Banks & Polack, 2014, p. iii). In Morocco, the lost income due to exclusion
from work was estimated to result in national level losses of as high as approximately USD 1.1 billion
(Morgon Banks & Polack, 2014, p. iii).
A study in 2000 calculated that the economic losses from lower productivity among people with
disabilities across all low- and middle-income countries amounted to between USD 473.9-672.2 billion a
year (Morgon Banks & Polack, 2014, p. iii, 42). A 2009 study of 10 low- and middle-income countries
estimated that costs from lower labour productivity and exclusion of people with disabilities amounted to
approximately 3-7 per cent of GDP, which is lower than the earlier study but still significant (Buckup,
2009, p. 51; Morgon Banks & Polack, 2014, p. iv, 42). It makes clear that ‘people with disabilities are less
productive not because they are “disabled” but because they live and work in environments that are
“disabling”’ (Buckup, 2009, p. 51).
30
In addition, public spending on disability programmes can be significant. This has encouraged some
countries to foster the inclusion of people with disabilities in the labour market (WHO & World Bank,
2011, p. 43; Heymann et al., 2014, p. 4).
Implications
These studies indicate that policy makers should frame the exclusion of people with disabilities not only
as a social but also as an economic concern (Buckup, 2010). It makes economic sense to create an
environment that is supportive for people with disabilities (Buckup, 2009, p. 51). This is particularly
important, as in times of crisis governments may cut spending and rethink budget allocations. However,
‘promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities in the world of work is not only a matter of rights and
social justice but also contributes to sustainable growth and development’ (Buckup, 2010).
More research needed
While the Buckup study indicates that it is possible to generate country level data on the costs of
exclusion, there is still a lack of evidence looking at the macro-economic costs of excluding people with
disabilities. In addition, Walton (2012, p. 19) finds that few in-depth studies explore the links between
inclusive growth and disability inclusive development, despite acknowledgement that people with
disabilities will form a critical part of any inclusive growth strategy.
Lack of data and the invisibility of people with disabilities
The invisibility of people with disabilities in international development
Disability is still largely absent from data collection and monitoring mechanisms in international
development (Mitra, 2013, p. e178). The invisibility of people with disabilities in the mainstream
development narrative has ‘resulted in development interventions unintentionally leaving out people
with disabilities from their target groups’ (Al Ju’beh, 2015, p. 50; Bruijn et al., 2012, p. 20). Lack of data
about disability means that policy makers and practitioners are more likely to put disability aside (Groce
et al., 2011, p. 1501). It has contributed to the false impression that people with disabilities are a ‘very
small group, reserved for the specialist attention of health or rehabilitation professionals and beyond the
scope of development studies’ (Mitra et al., 2013, p. 1).
The UN Expert Group on Disability Data and Statistics, Monitoring and Evaluation finds that ‘data
disaggregated by disability in all areas will be essential to ensure progress is measured and persons with
disabilities are not left behind in future mainstream development programmes’ (UN, 2014, p. 9).
Difficulties in measuring disability
Disability is complex and therefore difficult to measure: ‘no gold standard measure exists, different
measures exist for different purposes, and the use of different measures in different countries makes
international comparison of prevalence or outcomes difficult’ (Mitra, 2013, p. e178; Madans et al., 2011,
p. 3; Wissenbach, 2014, p. 4). Measuring child disability is particularly difficult as children develop at
different speeds, which makes it difficult to assess function and distinguish significant limitations from
variations in normal development (UNICEF, 2013, p. 63). In addition, people with disabilities may not be
willing to identify themselves for fear of becoming labelled and marginalised (Kett & Twigg, 2007, p. 97).
Developing global indicators for the monitoring and evaluation of disability policies and programmes is
very challenging (Groce et al., 2011, p. 1508).
Disability inclusion: Topic guide, 2015
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Box 6: Frameworks and indicators for monitoring and evaluating disability inclusion
The Washington Group questions
The UN recommends using the Washington Group questions to gather disability data consistently
across the world. There are many other recommendations for the inclusion of the Washington
Group questions in censuses, and government, UN, and NGO data collection (UN, 2014, p. 10), and
global household surveys such as the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) (Mitra, 2013, e178).
For example, DFID has made a commitment (2013) to advocate for the use of the UN’s Washington
Group questions on disability in DFID-supported surveys and censuses, and is encouraging bilateral
and multilateral partners to do the same (DFID, 2014, p. 9). The questions can be used to monitor
the impact and implementation of the UNCPRD and other disability inclusion efforts by donors and
NGOs (Madans et al., 2011, pp. 1-2, 5; Mitra, 2013, p. e178; UN, 2014, p. 6).
The Washington Group on Disability Statistics is a voluntary working group made up of
representatives of over 100 National Statistical Offices and international, non-governmental and
disability organisations. Its members work towards disability definition and measurement that is
culturally neutral and reasonably standardised (Madans et al., 2011, p. 1).
Washington Group short set of questions
The Group has produced a shortlist of questions to measure disability consistently worldwide,
mainly through use in censuses and household surveys (Madans et al., 2011, p. 1). The shortlist
includes six questions – five on functional limitation (limitations in seeing, hearing, walking or
climbing steps, concentrating, and communicating) and one on self-care (limitation in showering or
dressing). They use a severity scale to capture the full spectrum of functioning (Madans et al., 2011,
p. 4).
The Washington Group short set of questions can be used for disaggregating data to track SDG
indicators (UN, 2014, P. 19). The questions, in combination with general well-being questions on, for
instance, employment or education, can also be used to assess participation and equal
opportunities. This is an alternative to identifying needs for rehabilitation or barriers in the
environment, which require a longer set of questions or a dedicated disability survey (Mitra, 2013,
p. e178; Madans et al., 2011, p. 3).
Washington Group extended sets
The Washington Group has also developed extended set questions on functioning. In addition, to
‘accurately assess disability in children, care must be taken to use questionnaires specifically
designed for the purpose’, and UNICEF is working with the Washington Group to develop a
screening tool specifically for children (UNICEF, 2013, pp. 67-68).
Complementary methodologies
Other complementary methodologies are also being developed that provide more detail than the
short set of questions (UN, 2014, p. 7; Wissenbach, 2014, pp. 4-5). For example, a Model Disability
Survey is being developed by WHO & World Bank, with the aim of providing data on all aspects of
disability (impairments, activity limitations, participation restrictions, related health conditions), as
well as environmental factors (UN, 2014, pp. 7-8). It is a general population survey designed to
address Article 31 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by collecting data to
compare the participation and inclusion rates of people with disabilities and those without.
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3 Barriers to disability inclusion
The previous section highlights the various barriers in different sectors that result in the exclusion of
people with disabilities from society. Similar barriers also mean that people with disabilities are excluded
from, or unable to access, mainstream development and humanitarian assistance programmes ‒ there
are estimates that only around four per cent of people with disabilities benefit from international
cooperation programmes (Schulze, 2010, p. 173).
These barriers to disability inclusion can be categorised as attitudinal, environmental, and institutional.
People with disabilities may also internalise barriers which prevent their inclusion. Further barriers to
inclusion in development and humanitarian response are: lack of participation of people with disabilities;
inadequate data, statistics and evidence of what works; and inaccurate concerns over the cost/difficulty
of disability inclusion.
Disability inclusive responses aim to remove these barriers through various means outlined in Section 5.
Attitudinal barriers
Attitudinal barriers, which result in stigmatisation and discrimination, deny people with disabilities their
dignity and potential and are one of the greatest obstacles to achieving equality of opportunity and social
integration (Wapling & Downie, 2012, p. 21; UNICEF, 2013, p. 11; Heymann et al., 2014, p. 6; Bruijn et al.,
2012, pp. 21-22). Negative attitudes create a disabling environment across all domains (WHO & World
Bank, 2011, p. 193, 262). They are often expressed through: the inability of non-disabled to see past the
impairment; discrimination; fear; bullying; and low expectations of people with disabilities (DFID, 2000, p.
8; WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 6, 262; UNICEF, 2013, p. 11).
Attitudes towards people with disabilities in low- and middle-income countries can be more extreme and
the degree of stigma and shame can be higher than in high-income contexts (Mont, 2014, p. 24). These
attitudes can arise as a result of ‘misconceptions, stereotypes and folklore linking disability to
punishment for past sins, misfortune or witchcraft’ (Groce & Kett, 2014, p. 5; Rimmerman, 2013; Burns et
al., 2014, pp. 43-44). Multiple and intersectional discrimination can intensify attitudinal barriers.
Development organisations’ staff may also have negative attitudes towards people with disabilities
(Bruijn et al., 2012, p. 22).
Environmental barriers
Inaccessible environments create disability by creating barriers to participation and inclusion (WHO &
World Bank, 2011, p. 263; Bruijn et al., 2012, pp. 22-23). Physical barriers in the natural or built
environment ‘prevent access and affect opportunities for participation’ (Wapling & Downie, 2012, p. 21;
DFID, 2000, p. 8; WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 4). Inaccessible communication systems prevent access to
information, knowledge and opportunities to participate (Wapling & Downie, 2012, p. 21; PPUA Penca,
2013, p. 5, 11; WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 4). Lack of services or problems with service delivery also
restrict participation of people with disabilities (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p.262).
Institutional barriers
Institutional barriers include many laws, policies, strategies or practices that discriminate against people
with disabilities (Wapling & Downie, 2012, p. 21; DFID, 2000, p. 8; WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 6, 262;
Bruijn et al., 2012, p. 23). For example, a study of five Southeast Asian countries found that electoral laws
do not specially protect the political rights of persons with disabilities, while ‘some banks do not allow
visually impaired people to open accounts, and HIV testing centers often refuse to accept sign language
Disability inclusion: Topic guide, 2015
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interpreters due to confidentiality policies’ (PPUA Penca, 2013, p. 5, 11; Wapling & Downie, 2012, p. 21;
Al Ju’beh, 2015, p. 87). Many countries still have restrictive laws, particularly affecting people with
psychosocial or intellectual disabilities (Al Ju’beh, 2015, p. 87). Discrimination may not be intended but
systems can indirectly exclude people with disabilities by not taking their needs into account (WHO &
World Bank, 2011, p. 6).
Lack of enforcement and political support for policies can also limit the inclusion of people with
disabilities (NCD, 2012, p. 85). For example, an evaluation of Norway’s work on disability inclusion in
development and humanitarian action found that its disability inclusion policy documents have been
ignored, or at best forgotten, and disability has not been a priority theme for the government. This has
resulted in ineffective mainstreaming and lack of coordination (NCD, 2012, pp. 85-87).
‘Internalised’ barriers
Sometimes internalised barriers can severely affect the participation and functioning of people with
disabilities in society (Bruijn et al., 2012, p. 16). Stigma relating to people with disabilities results in their
exclusion from societal interactions, which in turn can result in their ‘lack of pro-active behaviour in
expressing their opinions and claiming their rights’, leading to further exclusion (PPUA Penca, 2013, p. 12,
14-15). Low expectations of people with disabilities can undermine their confidence and aspirations
(DFID, 2000, p. 8; WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 6; Mont, 2014, p. 25).
Lack of participation
The lack of consultation and involvement of people with disabilities is a barrier to their inclusion in
society (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p.263; DESA, 2011, p. 10).
Inadequate data and statistics
The lack of rigorous and comparable data and statistics, combined with lack of evidence on programmes
that work, often impedes understanding and action on disability inclusion (WHO & World Bank, 2011,
p.263).
Inaccurate concerns over cost/difficulty of disability inclusion
One of the most common reasons given for not including people with disabilities is perceived cost (Coe &
Wapling, 2010, p. 884). Inadequate funding and allocations for implementing policies and plans can
prevent the inclusion of people with disabilities (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 262). Other excuses relate
to concerns that disability inclusion is too difficult and requires specialist knowledge, or that people with
disabilities require special programmes (Bruijn et al., 2012, p. 22). Staff may also feel that they are
overloaded and ‘don’t have time for an additional issue’ (Bruijn et al., 2012, p. 22), or that it is an issue
that is only relevant in high-income countries.
Experience from various development organisations shows that these excuses have to be tackled to
establish commitment to disability inclusion (Bruijn et al., 2012, pp. 72-75).
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Box 7: Tackling misconceptions about the cost of disability inclusion
Including people with disabilities in mainstream programmes is not as costly as sometimes
perceived, although reliable figures are not available (Bruijn et al., 2012, p. 47). A budget
allocation of 2-7 per cent is recommended for development organisations to raise awareness
and to make buildings, communication, and transport accessible (Bruijn et al., 2012, p. 47). This
should be included at the design stage so it is not regarded as ‘additional’ costs (Coe &
Wapling, 2010, p. 884). However, low/no-cost adjustments to how programme activities are
carried out can also be made (Coe & Wapling, 2010, p. 884).
Cost-effective and with wider long-term financial benefits
Several studies argue that inclusive approaches are more cost-effective than separate
piecemeal disability interventions, which do not remove all the barriers people with disabilities
face (Walton, 2012, p. 4; Bruijn et al., 2012, p. 73). The costs of including people with
disabilities ‘are far outweighed by the long-term financial benefits to individuals, families and
society’ (CBM, 2012, p. 10).
Disability inclusion: Topic guide, 2015
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4 Impact of disability inclusion
Much more evidence is available about the impact of the exclusion of people with disabilities (see Section
2) than of their inclusion, as exclusion is still so common. In addition, it should be noted that decisions on
how to include people with disabilities can be inherently political.
However, some evidence and estimates indicate that disability inclusion leads to the following outcomes.
Increased earnings and labour productivity
The economic benefits of adopting a disability inclusive approach to development are complex and
difficult to quantify as a result of a lack of data (Walton, 2012, p. 1, 2). One study in Nepal finds that wage
returns to education for people with disabilities are very high, ranging from 19.3 to 25.6 per cent
(Lamicchane & Sawadea, 2009; Lamicchane, 2015, p. 249). However, ‘at least 10 years of schooling are
necessary for returns on the investment in education to turn positive’ (Lamicchane, 2015, p. 249). Further
work in Nepal, the Philippines, and Cambodia, found that ‘people with disabilities who enjoy longer years
of schooling tend to be engaged in full-time or white-collar jobs which are usually associated with greater
income stability’ (Lamicchane, 2015, p. 247). In addition, a study across 13 low- and middle-income
countries found that ‘each additional year of schooling completed by an adult with a disability reduced
the probability by 2-5 per cent that his/her household belonged to the poorest two quintiles’ (Morgon
Banks & Polack, 2014, p. iii). It is estimated that in Pakistan, ‘rehabilitating people with incurable
blindness would lead to gross aggregate gains in household earnings of USD 71.8 million per year’
(Morgon Banks & Polack, 2014, p. iii).
The inclusion of people with disabilities in work/employment can lead to greater economic selfsufficiency, which decreases demands on social assistance, although evidence from low- and middleincome counties is lacking (Morgon Banks & Polack, 2014, p. iv, 44). Evidence from high-income countries
also indicates that ‘with the proper job matching and the right accommodations, employees with
disabilities can be just as productive as other workers and their inclusion may even increase overall profit
margins’ (Morgon Banks & Polack, 2014, p. 45).
Increased tax revenue
It is anticipated that increasing labour force participation of both people with disabilities and their
caregivers will increase a country’s potential tax base (Morgon Banks & Polack, 2014, p. iv, 44). In the
Philippines for example, excess unemployment among individuals with unrepaired cleft lips and palates is
calculated to have cost the government between USD 8-9.8 million dollars in lost tax revenue (Morgon
Banks & Polack, 2014, p. iv, 44). More evidence is available from high-income countries. In Scotland,
evidence indicates that every £1 spent on a supported employment project led to a savings of £5.87, due
in large part to decreased need for disability/welfare benefits and increased tax income (Morgon Banks &
Polack, 2014, p. 44).
Improved individual and family well-being
Education can provide individuals with the skills, experience and empowerment to vocalise their
opinions, and therefore ‘inclusion in education can be a first step towards increasing political
participation and social justice for people with disabilities’ (Morgon Banks & Polack, 2014, p. 34).
A study of disability and equity at work finds that ‘work provides the material means through which to
acquire adequate food, clothing, and shelter; access education, health care, and support services; and
36
participate in the cultural, recreational, and social life of one’s community’ (Heymann et al., 2014, p. 2).
Including people with disabilities in the labour market also reduces stigma and promotes inclusion
(Heymann et al., 2014, p. 2). Gainful employment can have a significant positive impact on feelings of
worth, ability, and self-determination for individuals with disabilities, as well as increasing their social and
civic interaction (Morgon Banks & Polack, 2014, p. 46; Heymann et al., 2014, p. 2-3; Lamicchane, 2015, p.
247; Burns et al., 2014, p. 30).
A quasi-randomised control trial in India found that community-based rehabilitation (CRB) programmes
significantly improved the well-being and access to services of people with disabilities (Mauro et al.,
2014). Compared to the control group, access to pensions and allowances, aid appliances, access to paid
jobs and personal-practical autonomy for the people with disabilities involved in the CRB programmes
increased by 29.7 per cent, 9.4 per cent, 12.3 per cent and 36.2 per cent respectively after seven years
(Mauro et al., 2014).
A randomised control trial in China found that people with schizophrenia who received individualised
family-based interventions worked 2.6 months more per year than those who did not receive the
treatment (Morgon Banks & Polack, 2014, p. v). A study in Bangladesh found that ‘children who were
provided with assistive devices (hearing aids or wheelchairs) were more likely to have completed primary
school compared to those who did not receive any supports’ (Morgon Banks & Polack, 2014, p. v). A small
study in Ethiopia found that the provision of wheelchairs led to a ‘significant time reallocation away from
begging (1.40 fewer hours per day) and toward income-generating activity (1.75 more hours per day) and
77.5 per cent higher income’ (Grider & Wydick, 2015, p. 2).
Little evidence is available, but recent research on disability inclusion in gender-based violence activities
in refugee camps found that including women and girls with disabilities, and their caregivers, fostered
relationship building and trust among women and girls with disabilities, as well as with others in the
community (WRC, 2015, p. 2). Inclusion also led to information exchange, skills building, and improved
self-esteem. It enabled women and girls with disabilities to be recognised, not for their impairment, but
for their roles as leaders, friends and neighbours, making positive contributions to their communities
(WRC, 2015, p. 2). Women with disabilities and caregivers in the VSLAs also reported ‘increased
independence and decision-making and greater respect and status within the family and community as a
result of their newfound access to income-earning opportunities’ (WRC, 2015, p. 2).
More inclusive and accessible societies for all
Creating an accessible environment has benefits for a broad range of people, including older adults,
pregnant women, parents with small children, people with less education or speakers of a second
language (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 169). Efforts to increase the quality of education to ensure
effective learning for children with disabilities arguably has the potential to improve teaching abilities
overall (Morgon Banks & Polack, 2014, p. 34). Inclusive education and employment could encourage
‘greater acceptance of diversity and the formation of more tolerant, equitable and cohesive societies’
(Morgon Banks & Polack, 2014, p. 34, 46). Inclusive humanitarian responses would also be automatically
accessible to older adults, children, pregnant women and people suffering from debilitating illness (Kett
& Twigg, 2007, p. 93).
Disability inclusion: Topic guide, 2015
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5 Disability inclusive development /
humanitarian response approaches
Best practice approaches to ensuring that international development/humanitarian programmes are
inclusive of and accessible to people with disabilities need not be costly or complicated. They can be
applied across all international development sectors, and they include the following.
Mainstreaming
Mainstreaming disability in development and humanitarian response is broadly defined as the inclusion
of people with disabilities in all aspects of development and humanitarian efforts (DESA, 2011, p. 5). It
means that disability should be considered in all programming (although disability-specific actions and
programming may also be required) (DESA, 2011, p. 5).
Mainstreaming is simultaneously a method, a policy and a tool for achieving social inclusion, which
involves the practical pursuit of non-discrimination and equality of opportunity (DESA, 2011, p. 5).
Mainstreaming disability is about ‘recognizing persons with disabilities as rights-holding, equal members
of society who must be actively engaged in the development process irrespective of their impairment or
other status, such as race; colour; sex; sexual orientation; language; religion; political or other opinion;
national, ethnic, indigenous or social origin; property; birth or age’ (DESA, 2011, p. 5).
People with disabilities share most basic needs with other people in society, and so mainstreaming has
been recognised as the most cost-effective and efficient way to achieve equality for persons with
disabilities (DESA, 2011, p. 5; Coe & Wapling, 2010, pp. 884-885; Bruijn et al., 2012, p. 25). Experience
suggests that an estimated 80 per cent of people with disabilities can be included without any specific
additional intervention, or with low-cost and simple community-based interventions that do not require
specific expertise (Bruijn et al., 2012, p. 26, 73).
It is important that efforts to mainstream disability begin with analysis of barriers and careful planning
(Coe & Wapling, 2010, p. 884). An evaluation of Norwegian efforts to mainstream disability, for example,
found that such efforts were poorly designed and insufficient (NCD, 2012, pp. 76-77). Mainstreaming
risks ‘token involvement of disabled people and the neglect of their self-determination and equality’ if
not carried out well (Meekosha & Soldatic, 2011, p. 1394).
‘Twin-track’ approach
The ‘twin-track approach’ combines mainstreaming with disability-specific projects needed to achieve the
full inclusion and participation of people with disabilities (DFID, 2000, p. 11; DESA, 2011, p. 5; CBM, 2012,
p. 15). It is the ‘most commonly referenced approach by UN agencies, bilateral development agencies
and NGOs for including people with disabilities in development’ and humanitarian response (Al Ju’beh,
2015, p. 55).
Successful outcomes require emphasis on both tracks, as they complement each other (Al Ju’beh, 2015,
p. 55). Often the balance is tipped towards disability-specific services in international development,
rather than mainstreaming (Al Ju’beh, 2015, pp. 55-56).
38
Raising awareness and changing attitudes/behaviours
Evaluations of disability inclusion in mainstream development NGOs’ programmes found that ‘challenging
staff and community attitudes is the key first step to seeing positive change towards the inclusion of
disabled people in development work’ (Coe & Wapling, 2010, pp. 881-882; Coe, 2012, pp. 404-405;
UNICEF, 2013, p. 12; Bruijn et al., 2012, p. 90). Interacting with people with disabilities can result in a
positive change in the attitudes and behaviour of those implementing programmes and enable them to
better tailor their services to meet the needs of people with disabilities (WRC, 2015, p. 2). Evaluations of
disability inclusion efforts by a mainstream development NGO found that positive attitudinal change
towards children and adults with disabilities is possible in a relatively short period (Coe, 2012, p. 404).
Bringing disability into the political and social discourse can create awareness and understanding of it at
organisational, community and institutional levels, which can promote positive attitudes towards it
(DESA, 2011, p. 8; Al Ju’beh, 2015, p. 50; UNICEF, 2013, p. 12; CBM, 2012, p. 15). Greater awareness
encourages identification of incidence, type and impact of disability (CBM, 2012, p. 15). This awareness
should encompass recognition of the diverse experiences of people with disabilities, and an
understanding of the social model and the different barriers people with disabilities face (Al Ju’beh, 2015,
p. 50; Coe, 2012, p. 403). It is important to reinforce inclusion messages regularly with all stakeholders
(Coe, 2012, p. 405).
Comprehensive accessibility
Comprehensive accessibility ‘ensures that physical, communication, policy and attitudinal barriers are
both identified and addressed’ (CBM, 2012, p. 17). Providing comprehensive accessibility is thought to be
‘an enabler of an improved, participative economic and social environment for all members of society’
(DESA, 2013, p. i, 6; CBM, 2012, p. 15).
See also information on accessibility and universal design in Section 2.
Reasonable accommodation
Reasonable accommodation is defined by the UNCRPD as ‘necessary and appropriate modification and
adjustments not imposing a disproportionate or undue burden, where needed in a particular case, to
ensure to persons with disabilities the enjoyment or exercise on an equal basis with others of all human
rights and fundamental freedoms’ (UNCRPD, 2006, p. 4). It is an important strategy in mainstreaming
(WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 264). It can include:

structural modifications to facilities;

use of equipment with universal design features;

communication in appropriate formats;

modification of working times or arrangements; and

alternative models of service delivery (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 74).
Requirements for reasonable accommodation can be voluntary or mandatory (WHO & World Bank, 2011,
p. 241). In some circumstances, for example where employers bear the cost of providing reasonable
accommodations, they may be less likely to hire people with disabilities, although various financial
incentives can be offered to counter these obstacles (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 242). While
accessibility can be realised progressively, reasonable accommodation has potential to be realised more
immediately (Schulze, 2010, pp. 55, 62).
Disability inclusion: Topic guide, 2015
39
Participation
Best practices for disability inclusion in development and humanitarian work are ‘participatory, actively
and meaningfully involving people with disability in all matters concerning them in the process of forming
policies and programmes’ (DESA, 2011, p. 7; see also: Al Ju’beh, 2015, p. 51; Coe & Wapling, 2010, p. 883;
Bruijn et al., 2012, p. 38-40; CBM, 2012, p. 15; Smith et al., 2012, p. 11; NCD, 2012, p. 76).
Include all impairment groups
Participation needs to involve all impairment groups, and also consider intersectionalities with gender,
age, ethnicity and other factors that can contribute to discrimination or exclusion (Al Ju’beh, 2015, p. 51;
Coe & Wapling, 2010, p. 883; DSEA, 2011, p. 7). It is ‘especially important to ensure the inclusion of the
most marginalized groups of persons with disabilities, such as persons with psychosocial disabilities and
persons with intellectual disabilities’ (DESA, 2011, p. 7). Not doing so can result in programmes’ impact
being substantially reduced as a result of too much emphasis being placed on a ‘small selection of the
most articulate and least isolated disabled people’ (Coe & Wapling, 2010, p. 883; Bruijn et al., 2012, p.
38). For example, Norwegian aid was found to focus primarily on people with physical/mobility
disabilities, with less relevance for other disability groups (NCD, 2012, p. 76).
Involve DPOs
The mantra of the disability movement, ‘nothing about us, without us’, highlights that organisations
should provide services with people with disabilities, rather than for them (Al Ju’beh, 2015, p. 52; Kett &
Twigg, 2007, p. 103). DPOs can play an important role in this process: donors should consider helping to
address DPOs’ capacity gaps, which are sometimes large (DESA, 2011, p. 7; Wapling & Downie, 2012, pp.
39-47; Kett & Twigg, 2007, p. 104; Bruijn et al., 2012, p. 57; NCD, 2012, p. xviii). For example, an
evaluation of Norway’s work on disability inclusion in development found that the most relevant and
effective interventions were those supporting advocacy and capacity building of DPOs (NCD, 2012, p. 76).
It is also important to be accountable to people with disabilities (DESA, 2011, p. 7).
The involvement and leadership of people with disabilities in community institutions and activities can
lead to better attention to their concerns in organisations and programmes, and greater appreciation by
other community members of their skills and capacities (WRC, 2015, p. 2; CBM, 2012, p. 15).
Participatory research
People with disabilities can help collect and analyse data. An example of participatory research carried
out with people with disabilities is the ‘Voices of the Marginalised’ project, piloted in Bangladesh, which
identifies the issues people with disabilities feel are most critical (Burns et al., 2014). The research
modelled the process of empowerment itself (Burns et al., 2014, p. 68). However, there is a ‘lack of
knowledge of the use of this approach in disability research in non-Western countries’ (Katsui and
Koistinen, 2008, p. 747). A review of the literature on the monitoring and evaluation of CBR programmes
also found no standard approach to the inclusion of people with disabilities in M&E (Lukersmith et al.,
2013).
Rights-based approach
Best practices for disability inclusion adopt a rights-based approach (DESA, 2011, p. 7; Wapling & Downie,
2012, p. 27; Al Ju’beh, 2015, pp. 86-97; NCD, 2012, p. 77). This means that ‘each mainstreaming initiative
should contribute systematically to the implementation of the UNCRPD, which aims to promote, protect
and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons
with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity’ (DESA, 2011, p. 7; see also: Al Ju’beh,
40
2015, p. 93). A rights-based approach promotes barrier removal and inclusion in all sectors, including
health, rehabilitation, assistance and support, environments, education and employment (DESA, 2011, p.
7). Evaluations of disability mainstreaming in World Vision programmes found that the UNCRPD offered
opportunities for good progress because of governments’ adoption of it (Coe, 2012, p. 407).
Legislation plays an important role in enforcing rights, creating minimum standards in accessibility, and
ensuring participation (WHO & World Bank, 2011). Technical assistance can build governments’ capacity
to put in place or strengthen such legislation (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p.269).
Community-based rehabilitation
Community-based rehabilitation (CBR) has evolved to become a strategy for rehabilitation, equalisation
of opportunities, poverty reduction, and the social inclusion of people with disabilities (WHO & World
Bank, 2011, p. 13; UNICEF, 2013, p. 17; CBM, 2012, p. 15). It is increasingly being implemented through
the combined efforts of people with disabilities, their families, organisations and communities, and
government and non-governmental services (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 13).
There is limited but growing evidence that CBR can improve well-being for persons with disabilities and
their families (Mauro et al., 2014; Biggeri et al., 2014). Evaluation of CBR programmes supported by
Norwegian aid found that local ownership and buy-in made them effective and sustainable (NCD, 2012,
pp. 79-80). CBR is said to have great potential, but ‘WHO estimates that CBR still only reaches a small
number of all persons with disability’ (Groce & Bakhshi, 2011, p. 1159).
Organisational change
Experience from a number of development NGOs shows that successful disability inclusion requires
organisational change (Bruijn et al., 2012, p. 8, 64). It is important that donors emphasise the issue’s
importance and NGOs recognise it as an organisational priority to ensure that the appropriate resources
are provided (DESA, 2011, p. 8; Coe & Wapling, 2010, p. 884).
Evaluations of attempts to mainstream disability inclusion in a development NGO’s programming found
that ‘early effective training on social model principles is crucial’ (Coe, 2012, p. 403). Training carried out
by people with disabilities themselves was found to be particularly helpful (Bruijn et al., 2012, p. 34).
Wapling & Downie’s report on donors and disability inclusion finds that:
‘experience shows the most substantial gains are made when donors and development agencies
change the way disability is internally defined and understood, when they commit to approaching
disability from a human rights-based perspective rather than an impairment-based one, and when the
empowerment and support of disabled people’s organizations is central to their strategy’
(2011, p. 13).
It is important to: secure commitments from senior staff; set concrete organisational targets for disability
inclusion; design inclusive budgets; and collaborate with others (Wapling & Downie, 2012, pp. 27-29; Coe,
2012, pp. 406-407).
Inclusion messages need to be regularly reinforced, as there can be a ‘tendency to drift from socially
inclusive principles back towards medical/charity model approaches when implementation starts’ (Coe,
2012, p. 403).
Disability inclusion: Topic guide, 2015
41
Mainstreaming disability takes time, commitment and resources. Donors can benefit from:

appointing disability champions;

involving people with disabilities in decision making and as advisors;

including disability in baseline surveys and situational analyses;

disaggregating data to include numbers of people with disabilities; and

supporting research linked to disability
(Wapling & Downie, 2012, pp. 29-31; Coe, 2012, p. 400; Bruijn et al., 2012, p. 68, 91).
Adapting existing programming tools to be disability inclusive has been found to be more effective than
providing generic checklists (Coe, 2012, pp. 405-406).
Evaluations of attempts to mainstream disability inclusion in a development NGO’s programming found
creating a disability inclusive environment in the organisation itself was essential (Coe & Wapling, 2010,
p. 883; Bruijn et al., 2012, p. 69). A more disability-friendly organisation can be created by:

conducting regular disability awareness training sessions and including it in staff induction
programmes;

hiring more staff, volunteers or consultants with disabilities;

adapting communication and information systems;

making offices, workshops and conferences accessible; and

creating a sense of shared commitment by using access as a starting point for wider discussions
(Wapling & Downie, 2012, pp. 33-35; Al Ju’beh, 2015, pp. 63-68).
Resources: case studies of successful disability inclusion
Intentional efforts can quickly achieve a ten-fold increase in the disabled people being included in a
mainstream NGO’s programmes: this was one of the findings of a synthesis of the externally evaluated
lessons from World Vision’s disability inclusion work (Coe, 2012, p. 404).
Box 8: Case study resources
 The World Report on Disability identifies different strategies for inclusion in various sectors
(WHO & World Bank, 2011).
 A UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) report outlines case studies that illustrate
best practices at international, regional, sub-regional and national levels for including persons
with disabilities in all aspects of development efforts (DESA, 2011).
 An ILO-Irish Aid report outlines case studies of organisations working toward the inclusion of
people with disabilities in all spheres of life (ILO, 2011).
 The Zero Project reports collect and profile innovative practises in disability inclusion from around
the world. They include information on impact and effectiveness, as well as transferability,
scalability, and cost-efficiency (e.g. Balmas et al., 2015; Fembek et al., 2014; Fembek et al., 2013).
 The CBM guide to ‘Inclusion made easy’, provides case studies and lessons learned in various
sectors (CBM, 2012).
42
6 Policies, frameworks and tools
A mapping of the disability inclusion policies and practices of major multilateral and bilateral agencies (Lord et al.,
2010) finds that disability inclusion is increasingly part of international cooperation and development aid. Policies
often combine several approaches to the inclusion of disability in development, including human rights and
participation, and disability is included through both specific and mainstreamed programmes (Lord el al., 2010, p.
iii). However, Groce et al. (2011, p. 1508) find that systematic disability inclusion in all aspects of all development
programmes is still rare.
Overarching frameworks
Most work on disability inclusion is framed around the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) mention people with disabilities under five of the seventeen
goals: on education (SDG4); growth and employment (8); inequality (10); accessibility of human settlements (11);
and data collection and monitoring (17). (See Section 1.)
Approaches of UN agencies and other multilateral organisations – selected examples

The UN Enable website provides information on disability and the UN organisations that promote
disability inclusion. Among these are:
‒ UNICEF
‒ UNHCR ‒ see also UNHCR manual on Working with persons with disabilities in forced
displacement
‒ UNESCAP ‒ Incheon strategy to ‘Make the Right Real’ for persons with disabilities in Asia and the
Pacific and ESCAP guide on disability indicators for the Incheon strategy.

World Bank ‒ see also Social analysis and disability: A guidance note – Incorporating disability-inclusive
development into Bank-supported projects

WHO ‒ see also the WHO global disability action plan 2014–2021: Better health for all people with
disability

ILO ‒ see also the ILO’s Disability inclusion strategy and action plan 2014-17

Global Partnership for Education

European Union/European Commission ‒ see also the European Disability Strategy (2010-2020), which
resolves to promote the rights of people with disabilities at international level, and the Guidance note on
disability inclusive development cooperation for EU staff.
Approaches of bilateral development agencies – selected examples

UK: Disability framework: Leaving no one behind

Australia: Development for all 2015-2020: Strategy for strengthening disability-inclusive development in
Australia’s aid program

Germany: Action plan for the inclusion of persons with disabilities (2013-2015)

Japan: JICA thematic guidelines on disability

USA: USAID disability policy paper and Disability inclusive development introductory course (for USAID
staff and development partners).
Disability inclusion: Topic guide, 2015
43
Toolkits for disability inclusion – selected examples
General
Many of these toolkits contain sections relevant to various sectors.
 Inclusion made easy: A quick program guide to disability in development (CBM)

Count me in: Include people with disabilities in development projects – A practical guide for organisations
in North and South (LIGHT FOR THE WORLD)

Make development inclusive: How to include the perspectives of persons with disabilities in the project
cycle management guidelines of the EC (CBM)

Community-based rehabilitation guidelines (WHO)

Disability, equality and human rights – A training manual for development and humanitarian
organisations (Oxfam – with Action on Disability and Development)

Disability inclusive development toolkit (CBM)

Making inclusion a reality in development organisations: A manual for advisors in disability
mainstreaming (IDDC)

Making it work: Good practices for disability inclusive development (Handicap Intl.)

Human rights. Yes! action and advocacy on the rights of persons with disabilities (One Billion Strong &
University of Minnesota Human Rights Center)

Travelling together: How to include disabled people on the main road to development (World Vision)

Mainstreaming disability in development: Lessons from gender mainstreaming (Disability KaR)

A handbook on mainstreaming disability (VSO)
Poverty and livelihoods

Making national poverty reduction strategies inclusive (GTZ, Handicap Intl. & CBM)

Good practices for the economic inclusion of people with disabilities in developing countries: Funding
mechanisms for self-employment (Handicap Intl.)

Achieving equal employment opportunities for people with disabilities through legislation (ILO)

Inclusive employment (Handicap Intl.)

Count us in! – How to make sure that women with disabilities can participate effectively in mainstream
women’s entrepreneurship development activities (ILO)

Inclusive social protection: Tools and guidance (GIZ)
Participation and governance





Equal access: How to include persons with disabilities in elections and political processes (USAID, IFES &
NDI)
A guidance paper for an inclusive local development policy (Handicap Intl., shia & HSO)
Rights in action: Good practices for inclusive local governance in West Africa (Handicap Intl.)
Inclusive civic engagement: An information toolkit for families and people with intellectual disabilities
(Inclusion Intl.)
My voice matters! Plain language guide on inclusive civic engagement (Inclusion Intl.)
Education
44

Inclusive education (Handicap Intl.)

Inclusive learning: Children with disabilities and difficulties in learning (HEART)

Education for children with disabilities – Improving access and quality: Guidance note (DFID)

INEE pocket guide to supporting learners with disabilities (INEE)
Health

Promoting sexual and reproductive health for persons with disabilities (WHO & UNFPA)
WASH

Compendium of accessible WASH technologies (WEDC, WaterAid & share)

Casting the net further: Disability inclusive WASH (World Vision)

Disability: Making CLTS fully inclusive (Institute of Development Studies)
Accessibility

Accessibility and development: Environmental accessibility and its implications for inclusive, sustainable
and equitable development for all (DESA)

Accessibility design guide: Universal design principles for Australia’s aid program (DFAT)

International best practices in universal design: A global review (Cornell University ILR School)

Guide to improve accessibility for persons with disabilities: Inclusive meetings (Handicap Intl.)

Accessibility of Housing. A Handbook of Inclusive Affordable Housing Solutions for Persons with
Disabilities and Older Persons (UN-Habitat)
Disaster Risk Reduction

Mainstreaming disability into disaster risk reduction: A training manual (Handicap Intl. & ECHO)

Disability inclusive disaster risk management: Voices from the field & good practices (CBM & DiDRR)

Major hazards and people with disabilities (Council of Europe)
Humanitarian response

Disability inclusion: Translating policy into practice in humanitarian action (WRC)

Ageing & disability in humanitarian response: A resource book of inclusive practices (Ageing and Disability
Task Force)

Humanitarian aid: All inclusive! How to include people with disabilities in humanitarian action (LIGHT FOR
THE WORLD & Diakonie Eine Welt)

The Sphere handbook: Humanitarian charter and minimum standards in humanitarian response (The
Sphere Project)

‘I see that it is possible’ Building capacity for disability inclusion in gender-based violence programming in
humanitarian settings (WRC)
Gender

Disability rights, gender, and development: A resource tool for action (Secretariat for the UN Convention
on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UNFPA & Wellesley Centers for Women)

Mainstreaming disability and gender in development cooperation (IDDC, MDI & DCDD)

Guide to gender mainstreaming in public disability policies (CERMI)

Gender and disability mainstreaming: Training manual (GIZ & DIWA)
Human rights

Monitoring the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (OHCHR)

Disability rights advocacy: An advocacy manual for disability rights activists (ADD Zambia)
Monitoring and evaluation

Monitoring the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (Washington Group on Disability
Statistics)

Module on child functioning and disability (Washington Group on Disability Statistics/UNICEF)

Training manual on disability statistics (WHO/ESCAP)
Disability inclusion: Topic guide, 2015
45
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